Roll on, roll off
05 November 2007. Inspired by strange sporting selections.
Catalunya isn't allowed to represent itself as a sporting nation in many sports, but roller hockey is, in many ways, the exception. What's so exceptional about it? Well, having won the World Cup in 2004, the Spanish Sports Fed decided that actually it didn't look so great for federalism to have Catalan world champions, so they banned them from taking part in future European and World tournaments. (Result: the current Spanish team are now all Catalans)
Did plucky aspirant Catalunya give up? Hell no. So what if the Spanish Federation won't let them compete in any event where Spain is invited? The solution's in the question. Catalunya is now officially in South America. At least it is in the world of Roller Hockey, where the Catalans yesterday lost the final of the Copa America 4-2 to Argentina (who are also apparently "in South America". Yeah, whatever).
Still, they're not downhearted. There's always the Asian Championships to come. Meanwhile, in 2010, Catalunya will take its surreal map of the globe one step further, by hosting the Copa America itself. I, meanwhile, will be trying to spend pesos in my local bar. ¡Visc al Cataluyna! (wherever the heck it is)