Volley-ball and basket-ball in the hinterland of Minas Gerais: the advent of American sports in Montes Claros-MG in the first half of the 20th century

Abstract

This article intended to investigate the propagation and development of American sports (volleyball and basketball) in the city of Montes Claros, in the hinterland of Minas Gerais, in the first half of the 20th century, and its profound relationship with an evident process of increasing a culture local sports. As a method, reports from the main city periodical in the period, “Gazeta do Norte”, analyzed by the collection of the Regional Research and Documentation Center (CEPEDOR), organized and managed by the State University of Montes Claros (UNIMONTES), were analyzed. It was possible to notice that, as entities such as schools and associations are emerging, some sports practices stand out in the modernizing / civilizing project underway, in addition to the decanted and popular football. Notably the notions of progress and civility appear as justifications for the growth of these practices, imbued with the spirit of a society that aimed to achieve a high standard of social culture, with clear reference to the main Brazilian cities. The occurrence of sports festivals in the period, with emphasis on volleyball and basketball matches, accentuates the search for the distinction of a collectivity attentive to modern news, especially due to the sports bias. This scenario, constituting competitive / representative teams, would lead to more emphasis on the construction of the Praça de Esportes Minas Gerais (or Montes Claros Tennis Club). However, this whole panorama represents a clear intention: adherence to the civilizing and modern process, linked to the particular context of the city.