Argentina-profiles

ARGENTINA-PROFILES
By Alejandro Guevara Onofre

INTRODUCTION:

Argentina is a beautiful South American country and home to tango…and birthplace of Eva Peron, First Lady of Argentina in the 1940s and 1950s…and Diego Armando Maradona, best known for his nickname "Pelusa", one of the most famous athletes in the World History.

Argentina is one of the most industrialized country’s in Latin America… The South American country is among the most stable and democratic countries in the Third World…Buenos Aires, Argentina’s capital, is one of the most romantic and beautiful places… is very famous for its hospitality.

This place is one of the most dynamic entertainment centers in Latin America. There are lots of theaters, fantastic tavernas restaurants and stadiums… very peaceful and historical places…The South American country has been benefited from the many infrastructure projects that were provided for the 1978 FIFA World Cup, 1990 FIBA World Cup, FIVB World Cup (1982 and 2002) and Pan American Games (1995).

FILMS AND BOOKS ABOUT ARGENTINA:

"Evita" (1997), a film about Eva Duarte de Peron, former First Lady of Argentina in the 20th Century.

"The Return of Eva Peron with the Killings in Trinidad", a book about Third World dictatorships…by Vidiadhar Surajprasad Naipaul, who won the 2001 Nobel Prize for Literature.

FAMOUS PEOPLE:

Jorge Luis Borges (writer)/ Ernesto Sabato (writer)/ Carlos de Saavedra Lamas (jurist/ 1936 Nobel Prize for Peace) / Bernardo A. Houssay (scientist: 1947 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine)/ Fernando Lamas (actor)/ Luis Leloir (1970 Nobel Prize for Chemistry)/ Mario Alvarez (architect) / Alfredo Agostini (architect) / Cesar Milstein (scientist) /Libertad Lamarque (singer) / Carlos Gardel (singer)/ Julio Bocca (dancer)…

DID YOU KNOW THAT…

Argentina is about 40 times the size of Switzerland. More than 30 million people live there. The vast South American country, bigger than France, Germany and Japan combined, is the birthplace of Jose de San Martin, who was a Latin American revolutionary in the 18th Century.

ITALIAN ANCESTRY:

Gabtriela Sabattini (tennis player)/, Arturo Illia (former President of Argentina)/ Hector Campora (ex-President of Argentina)/ Octavio Dazzan (cyclist) Norma Cappagly (Miss World 1960)…

OLYMPICS SPORTS AND ARGENTINA…

Argentina’s national basketball team won its first-ever gold medal at the Olympic Games in Athens (2004). The final ranking: 1-Argentina, 2-Italy, 3-USA, 4-Lithuania, 5-Greece, 6-Puerto Rico, 7-Spain, 8-China, 9-Australia, 10-New Zealand, 11-Yugoslavia, 12-Angola…

SURPRISES…1982…Buenos Aires hosted at the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship. There were 24 teams. The big favorites were The USSR (Olympic medal), Bulgaria, Japan, Cuba (gold medal at the Pan American Games), Brazil (gold medal at the "Mundialito"…Brazil defeat Soviet team 3-1) and the People’s Republic of China…Surprinsingly… Under the leadership of Carlos Wagenfield, the home team defeated Japan 3-1 for the bronze medal…Before Japanese newspaper reported the match as a 3-0 (15-0, 15-3, 15-2).Ironically, Argentina did not qualify for Pan American Games in San Juan de Puerto Rico (1979). Finallly, the USSR (today’s Russia, Belarus, Estonia…) captured the men’s gold medal, with Brazil finishing second and Argentina third…

DID YOU KNOW THAT…

Argentina has three idols: Eva Peron…Diego Armando Maradona…and Carlos Gardel.

FAMOUS WOMEN:

Norma Leandro (actress)/ Gabriela Sabattini (tennis player)/ Paloma Herrera (dancer)…Las Madres de la Plaza Mayo (human rights activists).

WHO IS ISABEL PERON?

Maria Estela Martinez de Peron or Isabel Peron, vice-president of Argentina from 1973 to 1974, was selected by Parliament to become Head of State of the country after the death of Juan Domingo Peron…In 1974, Argentina’s Isabel Peron became to first woman to be President in the World History.

WHO IS MAXIMA ZORREGUIETA?

Currently, Maxima Zorreguieta, was born on Argentina, is the Princess of the Netherlands…She is the second European Princess of Latin American descent.

OTHER FAMOUS PEOPLE BORN IN ARGENTINA…

The 1980 Nobel Prize for Peace was awarded to Adolfo Perez Esquivel, a human rights leader in the 1970s and 1980s.Adolfo was the second Latin to receive the Prize since 1936, when his countrymen Carlos de Saavedra won the Prize…Adolfo became an outspoken critic of Argentinean dictator Jorge Rafael Videla Redondo.

DID YOU KNOW THAT…

Argentinean Presidents have live in the Casa Rosada (Government Palace) since many decades…

REFERENCES:

-Box, Ben. Footprint South American Handbook 2005.

-Fisher, Jo. Mothers of the Dissapeared, Zed Books, 1989

-Guevara Onofre, Alejandro. Enciclopedia Mundototal, Editorial San Marcos, Lima, 1999

-Lloyd, A. Dances of Argentina, Max Parish, London, 1995

-Mason, Tong. Passion of the People: Football in South America, Verso, London, 1995.

-Naipaul, V.S. The Return of Eva Peron with the Killings in Trinidad, Andre Deutsh Limited, London, 1980