The major sports in Venezuela are baseball, and football. Baseball in Venezuela originates with the early twentieth century cultural influence of United States oil companies. The Venezuelan Professional Baseball League was established in 1945.

Football in Venezuela lags behind baseball, but its popularity in recent years has grown. Basketball and rugby union are also popular sports; there has been a national basketball league since 1974.

The Vuelta a Venezuela is one of six cycling events in the UCI America Tour. The polo club Lechuza Caracas has had some success in North American polo competitions.

In international competitions, Venezuela has participated in the Olympics since 1948, and the Winter Olympic Games since 1998. It won its first Olympic medal in 1952 when Arnoldo Devonish won bronze in the Men’s Triple Jump, and its first Olympic gold in 1968 (Francisco Rodríguez, light flyweight boxing). Venezuela first competed in the Paralympics in 1984, and won its first Paralympic gold in 2008 (Naomi Soazo, judo).

Venezuela participates in the Pan American Games and the Central American and Caribbean Games, with Caracas hosting these games in 1983 and in 1959 respectively. Venezuela has had a Davis Cup team since 1957.

Though golf is a minor sport under pressure in Venezuela, the emergence of Jhonattan (Johnny) Vegas on the PGA Tour in 2011 and his strong showing as a rookie there has raised its profile.

Baseball

Baseball is the most popular sport in Venezuela.

The Venezuelan Professional Baseball League was established in 1945, with Leones del Caracas the leading team; another leading club is Valencia’s Navegantes del Magallanes, established in 1917. There is a Venezuelan Summer League (established in 1997) and winter league (Liga Paralela). Venezuelan teams have won the Caribbean Series a number of times.

The Venezuela national baseball team won the Baseball World Cup several times in the 1940s, and the Baseball tournament at the Pan American Games in 1959.
Venezuelan players in US-Canadian Major League Baseball number over 200 since 1939.

The Luis Aparicio Award was established in 2004, in honor of Luis Aparicio, the only Venezuelan ballplayer to have been introducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. The award is given annually to honor the Venezuelan player who recorded the best individual performance in Major League Baseball, as voted on by Sports journalists in Venezuela.

Football

Football is a widely practiced and popular sport in Venezuela, although the sport has lagged behind baseball in terms of popularity.

The Federación Venezolana de Fútbol was established in 1926 following the creation of the Liga Venezolana in 1921. Professionalism was not established until 1957 with the Copa de Venezuela arriving two years later. Caracas Fútbol Club is the country’s most successful club side. A second division was added in 1979, with a third added in 1999, and a 4th in 2006.

The Venezuela national football team played their first game in 1938. Following Ecuador’s qualification for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, Venezuela are now the only CONMEBOL member to have never appeared at a FIFA World Cup.

However, the team are no longer seen as pushovers and are now recognised as stern opposition. Their growing status was further demonstrated by their hosting of the Copa América 2011 during which they reached the Quarterfinals.
An under-20 team, an under-17 team, and a women’s team also compete.

Basketball

The Liga Professional de Baloncesto is a main Venezuelan Basketball League, which features 14 teams.

The Venezuela Basketball Association controls the men’s and women’s basketball teams.

Rugby Union

Rugby union is a popular team sport in Venezuela. Rugby union is considered the fourth most popular sport in Venezuela, after baseball, football, and basketball.