Physical culture...

"Physical culture and sport in New Spain"

Sport and physical training were promoted by the government of the Republic during the civil war. With a People's Army made up mostly of citizens of different ideologies within the defence of the Republic, preparation and discipline were paramount, so campaigns such as this one to promote sport, together with other literacy campaigns, favoured the militarisation and discipline of the new soldiers. In addition to improving the physical condition of the combatants, sporting activity was also aimed at controlling activities considered inappropriate for the concentration of the soldier, vices (alcohol, sex, gambling...). The allegory that appears of the Olympic athlete recalls that the People's Olympiad would have taken place in Barcelona between 19 and 26 July 1936, in protest against the Olympic Games in Berlin, but that the coup d'état in July prevented it.