Liga Atlética Interuniversitaria de Puerto Rico
Liga Atlética Interuniversitaria (LAI) | |
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Established | 1929 |
Association | FISU |
Members | 21 |
Sports fielded | (men's: 16; women's: 13) |
Region | Puerto Rico and U.S.V.I. |
Former names | Asociación Atlética Intercolegial |
Headquarters | San German, Puerto Rico |
Commissioner | José Enrique Arrarás |
The Liga Atlética Interuniversitaria de Puerto Rico, often abbreviated LAI, (English: "Puerto Rico Inter-university Athletics League", LAI) is a college athletics conference in Puerto Rico. The LAI is a non-profit organization whose main purpose is to regulate sports amongst its member institutions. The league was founded in 1929 by Cosme Beitía of the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus, Charles Leker for the Instituto Politécnico de San Germán (English: San Germán Polytechnic Institute), and Luis Izquierdo Galo y José D. Morales from the Colegio de Agricultura y Artes Mecanicas of Mayagüez (English: Mayagüez College of Agriculture and Mechanical Arts).[1] The league is best known for its flagship inter-collegiate sports event popularly called Las Justas which takes place yearly during the month of April, generally in the city of Ponce.[2]
History
The League began celebrating three sports events amongst its member institutions in 1929; Baseball, Basketball, and Athletics. Initially the League's events were open to male athletes only, but the practice was relaxed with time. Today male athletes compete in some 16 events and female athletes compete in thirteen. Women began competing in the league starting in the 1969-1970 academic year. Every year the league hosts the Justas de Atletismo y Festival Deportivo, their flagship sports competition event. For many years the event was held in San Juan, but in 1993 the event was moved to the city of Ponce.[3] In 2010 the event was held in Mayagüez in preparation for the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games.[4] Games resumed in Ponce in 2011, and continued in Ponce in 2012.[5]
The league is administered by a "Administrative Council" made up of the Deans of Students, Athletic Directors, and a student representative. There is also a "Cuerpo Rectoral" called the "Junta de Gobierno" made up of the Rectors and presidents of the member institutions. The "Junta de Gobierno" chooses an employee called "The Commissioner" who is appointed to act as executive officer of the LAI for a period of two years. The League is a founding member of International University Sports Federation.
Sports
- men's baseball
- men's & women's basketball
- men's & women's cross country
- men's & women's judo
- men's & women's taekwondo
- men's & women's soccer
- men's & women's softball
- men's & women's swimming
- men's & women's table tennis
- men's & women's tennis
- men's & women's volleyball
- men's water polo
- men's weightlifting
- men's wrestling
Member schools
Institution (English) | Institution (Spanish) | Acronym | Colors | Location | Year joined |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras | Universidad de Puerto Rico, Recinto de Río Piedras | UPR-RP | San Juan, Puerto Rico | 1929 | |
University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez | Recinto Universitario de Mayagüez | RUM | Mayagüez, Puerto Rico | 1929 | |
Interamerican University of Puerto Rico | Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico | UIPR | San German, Puerto Rico | 1929 | |
Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico | Pontificia Universidad Católica de Puerto Rico | PUCPR | Ponce, Puerto Rico | 1954 | |
University of Puerto Rico at Cayey | Universidad de Puerto Rico en Cayey | UPR-C | Cayey, Puerto Rico | 1971 | |
University of Turabo | Universidad del Turabo | UT | Gurabo, Puerto Rico | 1975 | |
University of Puerto Rico at Humacao | Universidad de Puerto Rico en Humacao | UPR-H | Humacao, Puerto Rico | 1975 | |
University of the Sacred Heart (Puerto Rico) | Universidad del Sagrado Corazón | USC | Santurce, Puerto Rico | 1979 | |
University of Puerto Rico at Bayamón | Universidad de Puerto Rico en Bayamón | UPR-B | Bayamón, Puerto Rico | 1980 | |
University of Puerto Rico at Arecibo | Universidad de Puerto Rico en Arecibo | UPR-A | Arecibo, Puerto Rico | 1983 | |
American University of Puerto Rico | AUPR | Bayamón, Puerto Rico | 1991 | ||
Bayamón Central University | Universidad Central de Bayamón | UCB | Bayamón, Puerto Rico | 1991 | |
University of Puerto Rico at Ponce | Universidad de Puerto Rico en Ponce | UPRP | Ponce, Puerto Rico | 1992 | |
University of Puerto Rico at Aguadilla | Universidad de Puerto Rico en Aguadilla | UPRAG | Aguadilla, Puerto Rico | 1992 | |
University of Puerto Rico at Carolina | Universidad de Puerto Rico en Carolina | UPRCA | Carolina, Puerto Rico | 1994 | |
University of Puerto Rico at Utuado | Universidad de Puerto Rico en Utuado | UPRU | Utuado, Puerto Rico | 1998 | |
Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico | Universidad Politécnica de Puerto Rico | PUPR | San Juan, Puerto Rico | 1999 | |
Eastern University (Puerto Rico) | Universidad del Este | UNE | Carolina, Puerto Rico | 2005 | |
Metropolitan University (Puerto Rico) | Universidad Metropolitana | UMET | San Juan, Puerto Rico | 2005 | |
Caribbean University | CU | Bayamón, Puerto Rico | 2005 | ||
University of the Virgin Islands | UVI | Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands | 2005 |
External links
References
- ↑ http://www.universia.pr/lai/index.jsp
- ↑ Donativos a manos llenas en Ponce. Jason Rodríguez Grafal. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 19 December 2013. Retrieved 24 December 2013.
- ↑ Las Justas se quedan en Ponce. Amigos de Ponce. 21 January 2010. Univision. (Originally published in El Nuevo Dia Guaynabo, Puerto Rico) Retrieved 4 August 2012.
- ↑ http://www.primerahora.com/diario/noticia/otros_accion/accion_deportiva/lai_calienta_motores_para_mayaguez_2010/344934
- ↑ Ponce se duplicará durante las Justas. Jason Rodríguez Grafal. Ponce, Puerto Rico: La Perla del Sur. Year 30. Issue 1480. Page 4. 11 April 2012. Retrieved 4 August 2012.