Liga Atlética Interuniversitaria de Puerto Rico

Liga Atlética Interuniversitaria
(LAI)
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 and the U.S. Virgin Islands.[1] 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).[2] 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.[3]

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.[4] In 2010 the event was held in Mayagüez in preparation for the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games.[5] Games resumed in Ponce in 2011, and continued in Ponce in 2012.[6]

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

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

References

  1. ↑ "Luna Athletic Interuniversity of PR and Virgin Islands (translated from Spanish)". 2010. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
  2. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2009-04-16. Retrieved 2009-04-25.
  3. ↑ Donativos a manos llenas en Ponce. Jason Rodríguez Grafal. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 19 December 2013. Retrieved 24 December 2013.
  4. ↑ 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.
  5. ↑ http://www.primerahora.com/diario/noticia/otros_accion/accion_deportiva/lai_calienta_motores_para_mayaguez_2010/344934
  6. ↑ 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.
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