sport
Caracas Students Join School Sports Leagues and National Competitions Today
Students and families in Caracas can enter school-based leagues and national student competitions through established programs at international schools and public institutions.
How we reported this
The transfer of the Leo Márquez Gymnasium, known as the Poliedrito, to the Venezuelan Basketball Federation creates a new central hub for basketball training and competition in Caracas.
This development matters now because multiple entry points already exist for young athletes through school programs that feed directly into larger competitions. International schools compete year-round in the VANAS league, while the XIX National Student Sports Games draw participants from public, private and subsidized schools across the city and the rest of Venezuela.
School-level entry points
Colegio Internacional Puerto La Cruz runs a varsity program for grades 9 through 12 that fields teams in volleyball, basketball and soccer. Practices take place at the school on Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons from 3:05 pm to 4:55 pm. Other international schools such as Escuela Bella Vista and Colegio Internacional de Caracas also field squads in the same VANAS league and the EVAC competition.
Parents interested in these programs should first confirm enrollment at one of the participating international schools, then check the athletics calendar posted on each school website. The Venezuelan National Olympic Committee began a separate school volleyball league in the Caracas region in March 2020 that started with more than 30 schools and has since expanded.
Path into the national games
The XIX National Student Sports Games provide a second route. More than 6,600 educational institutions and two million students across Venezuela take part in phases that begin at the school level and advance through parish, municipal and state rounds. Disciplines include volleyball, basketball, baseball and athletics.
Students already enrolled in Caracas schools can register through their physical-education departments when the intercourses phase opens. The structure requires no prior elite experience; the program is designed to increase participation rather than select only top performers.
Those seeking basketball-specific facilities can now use the Leo Márquez Gymnasium once the federation completes its transition to operate it as the National Basketball Center. Caracas FC home matches at the Brígido Iriarte National Stadium in El Paraíso offer another visible example of how existing venues support local sport, though participation there remains limited to professional schedules.
Prospective participants should contact the athletics office at their school or the nearest municipal sports authority to learn exact registration windows and required medical forms for the upcoming season.