"The performance of the Uruguay team has done more for the fame of Uruguay than thousands of dollars spent on propaganda. A national holiday was declared to mark the players' return home."
"The illustrated magazine Mundo Uruguayo claimed that the team had proved Uruguay was a civilised nation that could export culture as well as meat."
"Playing brilliant, coherent passing football, Uruguay took gold at the Games, quickly winning admiration in Europe and becoming the biggest draw."
In the 1920s, Uruguay's foreign minister collaborated with a Swiss diplomat to gain legitimacy for their football federation by joining FIFA. The diplomat entered Uruguay into the 1924 Olympic football tournament, causing financial panic. A federation official used his house as collateral for a loan to fund the trip. Uruguay excelled in Europe, winning gold at the Olympics and gaining international admiration. Their success elevated Uruguay's status as a sovereign nation and promoted the ideology of batllismo, emphasizing modernity and liberalism.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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