Book Published on the Influence of Croatian Immigrants in Chilean Sports

The Association of Professionals and Entrepreneurs of Croatian Descent (CPEAC) has published the work "Descendants: The Legacy of Croatian Blood in Chilean Sports," which focuses on athletes, sports officials, and media experts from the Croatian diaspora who have contributed to the development of sports in Chile. Guillermo Mimica, president of the Association, reports for Glas Hrvatske.

"Descendants: The Legacy of Croatian Blood in Chilean Sports" is the title of the book that the Association of Professionals and Entrepreneurs of Croatian Descent presented at a successful event held at the Croatian Club in Santiago. The work—a blend of investigative journalism, contemporary commentary, and cultural exploration—is authored by journalists Mario Bravo Varillas and Patricio Drago Torrijos, who compellingly portray the significant and lasting contribution of individuals of Croatian descent to Chilean sports.

This work explores the history of some of the first athletes of Croatian descent to represent Chile in international competitions. It includes 20 interviews with various contemporaries who have excelled in diverse disciplines—such as motorsports, chess, hockey, table tennis, basketball, rugby, tennis, golf, volleyball, and football, among other sports.

"This is a sort of geographical and cultural journey through the cities and towns where the direct relatives of the interviewees originate—an initiative that contributes to spreading knowledge about Croatia, its territory, and traditions. Finally, the content also features the story of a promising young athlete, a swimmer and water polo player—someone who represents the future of a legacy that continues to set standards in Chilean sports," explains the president of the Association.

One of the interviewees was Harold Mayne-Nicholls Sekul, a former candidate for the presidency of the Republic and former president of the National Association of Professional Football.

"I am grateful to be included in this book and for the invitation to this beautiful presentation. I consider it a valuable initiative that highlights the contribution of Croatians in Chile. My mother's family originates from the town of Bobovišća on the island of Brač. My great-grandfather, Ivan Sekul, arrived in Punta Arenas during the first decade of the 20th century," Mayne-Nicholls noted.

"Over generations, members of the large Croatian diaspora in Chile have successfully integrated into society, while always maintaining pride in their roots and passing down values such as honest work, personal sacrifice, responsibility, and a constant strive for personal progress. The individuals featured on these pages are the inheritors of that tradition. Each of them has enriched the memory of their ancestors and paid tribute to the legacy of those immigrants who embarked on a long journey to an unknown land, hoping to build a better future for their families," stated Mario Bravo, one of the authors of the work.

"This initiative is part of the continuous, persistent efforts that our organization carries out to promote Croatian values and culture in Chile; it represents a contribution to introducing new generations to the significant role that the diaspora has played in different spheres of society. In the literary field, the Association has published several books of great importance and scope, such as anthologies of short stories, narrative texts, and poems, as well as a manual for learning the Croatian language," highlighted Guillermo Mimica.

Sofija Tepes, a table tennis player who competed in the Olympic Games in Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996, and Sydney 2000, was one of the presenters of the book.

"I am very pleased with the outcome of this project. It is a beautiful text that helps us in Chile connect with our Croatian roots. I am proud to have been included. It means a lot to me, especially when I think of my father and my daughter. I belong to the first generation of descendants born in Chile; my father, Vjekoslav Tepeš Papić, arrived from Kutjevo in 1948 at the age of seven," said Sofija Tepes.

Among the interviewees were also Neven Ilic, a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and Iván Morovic, an international chess grandmaster who had the honor of representing Croatia at the 2000 Chess Olympiad in Istanbul. Both emphasized the importance of this work for preserving the memory of the Croatian contribution to Chilean society.

"The book will also be presented in other Chilean cities with a significant Croatian diaspora. Events are scheduled in Punta Arenas, Antofagasta, and Viña del Mar. Moreover, promotional presentations of the work are being held at various local universities, such as the Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaíso and the University of Las Américas," concludes Guillermo Mimica, president of the Association of Professionals and Entrepreneurs of Croatian Descent.

Source: HRT