Liga_Atlética_Interuniversitaria_de_Puerto_Rico

Liga Atlética Interuniversitaria de Puerto Rico

Liga Atlética Interuniversitaria de Puerto Rico

College athletics conference

The Inter-university Athletic League, often abbreviated LAI, is a college athletics conference in the U.S. Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.[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 at Rio Piedras, Charles Leker for the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico, and Luis Izquierdo Galo y José D. Morales from the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez.[2] The league is best known for its flagship inter-collegiate sports event locally called Las Justas which takes place yearly during the month of April, generally in the city of Ponce.[3]

Quick Facts Formerly, Conference ...

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

Current members

More information Institution (English), Institution (Spanish) ...
Notes
  1. Undergraduate
  2. UAGM was formed in 2019 from the merger of the three institutions under the Ana G. Mendez University System: the University of Turabo, Metropolitan University, and Universidad del Este, all of whom were LAI members at the time of merger.

Former members

More information Institution (English), Institution (Spanish) ...
Notes
  1. Undergraduate
  2. Currently an NAIA athletic conference.
  3. Formerly known as the University of Turabo (or Universidad del Turabo).
  4. All three universities were former independent institutions that were part of the Ana G. Méndez University System, before being merged to form Ana G. Méndez University.
  5. Formerly known as the University of the East (or Universidad del Este).
  6. Formerly known as the Metropolitan University of Puerto Rico (or Universidad Metropolitana).
  7. Closed following the end of the 2022–23 school year.

References

  1. [1]
    "Luna Athletic Interuniversity of PR and Virgin Islands (translated from Spanish)". 2010. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
  2. [2]
    "Liga Atlética Interuniversitaria de Puerto Rico". Archived from the original on 2009-04-16. Retrieved 2009-04-25.
  3. [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. [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. [5]
    "Deportes - Primera Hora". Archived from the original on 2013-12-25. Retrieved 2009-11-18.
  6. [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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