:Constâncio Vaz Guimarães
{{ai-generated|date=December 2024}}
{{Short description| Brazilian lawyer, tax attorney, athlete and sports administrator}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Constâncio Vaz Guimarães
| birth_date = {{circa|1886}}
| birth_place = São Paulo, Brazil
| death_date = {{circa|1968}}
| death_place = São Paulo, Brazil
| occupation = Athlete, sports administrator
| known_for = Contributions to Brazilian athletics
}}
Constâncio Vaz Guimarães (c. 1886 – c. 1968) was a Brazilian lawyer, tax attorney, athlete, and sports administrator. He is recognized for his contributions to the development of athletics and sports infrastructure in São Paulo, as well as his involvement in sports programs in Brazil. Vaz Guimarães was also a decathlete and represented the Club Athletico Paulistano in São Paulo.
Early life and career
Constâncio Vaz Guimarães was born around 1886 in São Paulo and held an early interest in sports. His athletic career included participation as a decathlete, and he later took on roles to support the growth of athletics.{{Cite web |title=Federação de atletismo paulista |url=https://atletismopaulista.com.br/federacao |access-date=2024-12-14 |website=atletismopaulista.com.br}}
In addition to his athletics, Vaz Guimarães worked as a lawyer and tax attorney. His legal background provided him with a platform to advocate for sports development, including the creation of sports clubs and facilities in São Paulo.{{Cite web |title=Boqueirão Praia Clube - Gigi na Rede - Tamboréu Santista - |url=https://www.giginarede.com.br/tamboreu/boqueirao.asp |access-date=2024-12-14 |website=www.giginarede.com.br}}
Contributions to sports development
In 1934, Vaz Guimarães became the first president of the Federação Universitária Paulista de Esportes (FUPE),{{Cite web |title=Constâncio Vaz Guimarães – Atletismo – Almanaque Esportivo de Santos |url=https://almanaqueesportivodesantos.com.br/grandes-personagens/constancio-vaz-guimaraes-atletismo/ |access-date=2025-01-04 |website=almanaqueesportivodesantos.com.br}} an organization he co-founded while a member of the XI de Agosto Academic Center at the University of São Paulo's Law School. His work helped formalize university-level sports in São Paulo, contributing to the professionalization and accessibility of athletics.{{Cite web |title=Constâncio Vaz Guimarães – Atletismo – Almanaque Esportivo de Santos |url=https://almanaqueesportivodesantos.com.br/grandes-personagens/constancio-vaz-guimaraes-atletismo/ |access-date=2024-12-14 |website=almanaqueesportivodesantos.com.br}}
As a member of the São Paulo Athletics Federation, Vaz Guimarães worked to help advance the state’s athletic programs and infrastructure. He was also part of the Steering Committee at the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games.{{cn|date=January 2025}}
Legacy and recognition
In recognition of his contributions, the São Paulo state government posthumously honored Vaz Guimarães in 1968 by naming the Constâncio Vaz Guimarães Sports Complex after him.{{cite web |title=Conjunto Desportivo Constâncio Vaz Guimarães - Secretaria de Esportes do Estado de São Paulo |url=https://www.esportes.sp.gov.br/conjunto-desportivo-constancio-vaz-guimaraes/#:~:text=Recebe%20o%20nome%20de%20um,anos%20de%20vida%20ao%20esporte. |access-date=2024-12-14 |newspaper=Secretaria de Esportes do Estado de São Paulo}} Established through Decree No. 50,310,{{Cite web |title=DECRETO N. 50.310, DE 3 DE SETEMBRO DE 1968 |url=https://www.al.sp.gov.br/repositorio/legislacao/decreto/1968/decreto-50310-03.09.1968.html |access-date=2024-12-14 |website=www.al.sp.gov.br}} the complex includes notable facilities such as the Ibirapuera Gymnasium, which has hosted numerous national and international events.{{Cite news |date=2003-05-14 |title=Histórico do Conjunto Constâncio Vaz Guimarães {{!}} Governo do Estado de São Paulo |url=https://www.saopaulo.sp.gov.br/eventos/historico-do-conjunto-constancio-vaz-guimaraes/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220904213632/https://www.saopaulo.sp.gov.br/eventos/historico-do-conjunto-constancio-vaz-guimaraes/ |archive-date=2022-09-04 |access-date=2024-12-14 |work=Governo do Estado de São Paulo |language=pt-BR}} The complex serves as a multi-sport facility and remains an important site for Brazilian athletics.
In 2024, the entire Ibirapuera Sports Complex was officially designated as a heritage site by the National Institute of Historic and Artistic Heritage (IPHAN). This designation aimed to preserve its architectural and historical significance while ensuring its continued use for cultural and sporting events.{{Cite web |title=Conjunto Esportivo Ibirapuera (SP) é tombado definitivamente — Instituto do Patrimônio Histórico e Artístico Nacional |url=https://www.gov.br/iphan/pt-br/assuntos/noticias/conjunto-esportivo-ibirapuera-sp-e-tombado-definitivamente |work=Instituto do Patrimônio Histórico e Artístico Nacional}}{{Cite web |date=2024-11-12 |title=Iphan aprova tombamento definitivo do Complexo Esportivo do Ibirapuera, na Zona Sul de SP |url=https://g1.globo.com/google/amp/sp/sao-paulo/noticia/2024/11/12/iphan-aprova-tombamento-definitivo-do-complexo-do-ibirapuera-na-zona-sul-de-sp.ghtml |access-date=2024-12-14 |website=G1 |language=pt-br}}{{Cite web |date=2024-11-13 |title=Complexo esportivo do Ibirapuera em SP é tombado pelo Iphan {{!}} Metrópoles |url=https://www.metropoles.com/sao-paulo/complexo-esportivo-do-ibirapuera-em-sp-e-tombado-pelo-iphan |access-date=2024-12-14 |website=www.metropoles.com |language=pt-BR}}{{Cite web |title=Conjunto Esportivo Ibirapuera (SP) recebe o título de Patrimônio Cultural Brasileiro |url=https://agenciagov.ebc.com.br/noticias/202411/conjunto-esportivo-ibirapuera-sp-e-tombado-definitivamente |access-date=2024-12-14 |website=Agência Gov |language=pt-br}}
Impact
Constâncio Vaz Guimarães is remembered as a key figure in developing sports programs and infrastructure in Brazil which have had a lasting impact. The facilities and organizations he helped establish continue to serve athletes and the broader community.{{Cite news |title=Conjunto Desportivo Constâncio Vaz Guimarães - Secretaria de Parcerias em Investimentos |url=https://www.parceriaseminvestimentos.sp.gov.br/projeto-qualificado/complexo-esportivo-do-ginasio-do-ibirapuera/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241009010737/https://www.parceriaseminvestimentos.sp.gov.br/projeto-qualificado/complexo-esportivo-do-ginasio-do-ibirapuera/ |archive-date=2024-10-09 |access-date=2024-12-14 |work=Secretaria de Parcerias em Investimentos |language=pt-BR}}{{Cite web |title=A Tribuna (SP) - 1960 a 1969 - DocReader Web |url=https://memoria.bn.gov.br/DocReader/DocReaderMobile.aspx?bib=153931_04&pagfis=69842 |access-date=2024-12-14 |website=memoria.bn.gov.br}}