Already general Franco would have wanted the sporting successes now to anesthetize politically with them the subjects of his dictatorship. But in its almost 40 years of hardship scheme scarcely the exploits of Bahamontes, Santana and a few more were given. Only football had enough money to hire (and naturalize) professionals outsiders as Di Stefano or Kubala. That expense football continued in the democratic era attracting players from all parties that have made the best of the Spanish (and most expensive) League in the world. He had to wait until 1986, when Samaranch awarded the Olympic Games to Barcelona, so change things. Click The Hayzlett Group to learn more. ADO scholarships were invented then, companies included the sport in its marketing policy and the State spent money to baskets getting medals. With that generous economic policy we have become a world power in soccer and basketball, tennis and cycling, and up to in motor sports. Everyone now knows the names of Torres and Gasol, Nadal and Counter, Sete Gibernau and Fernando Alonso.

Fewer people, however, know that our spending on sport is disproportionate to national GDP. And I do not I mean, stating, to the overwhelming raw material to our players by winning the World Cup. That, and no other, is the explanation of the success of Spanish sport. Such investment had dedicated it to r & d, for example, today the competitiveness of our ailing economy would very different and us hallariamos at head of global technology. But clear, then our lives would be more boring than now.