Narciso Masferrer

Narciso Masferrer Sala (26 April 1867 – 9 April 1941) was a pioneer of Catalan sports, sports journalism, and Olympism throughout Spain. He was present at most Catalan sports initiatives of the first third of the 20th century, founding and becoming director of a number of sporting projects, including some of the greatest sporting institutions in Catalonia, such as clubs, federations and sports press.

As a pioneer of sports journalism, he was the founder of Los Deportes, El Mundo Deportivo and "Stadium" magazines, a correspondent for the French publication L'Auto and an editor of La Vanguardia for 17 years, from 1912 to 1929. He is thus widely regarded as the father of modern sports journalism in Spain. In the press, his activity was basically centered on the creation of innovative journalistic projects and the promotion of sporting activity among citizens, preferably outdoors. From the various journalistic forums that he founded or directed, he had a decisive influence on the dissemination and institutionalization process of multiple sports modalities, from gymnastics to football, passing through motor racing, swimming, athletics, and cycling.

He was Spain's first sports promoter with a global and ambitious vision, and the first person who was clear about the need for national organizations for each sport, as well as federations for each national championship. He also left a big mark in cycling, holding the presidency of the Unión Velocipédica Espanyola in 1911, He was also a prominent member of the Spanish Olympic Committee and the main inspirer and promoter of the pre-Civil War Barcelona candidatures to host the Olympic Games. of which he was a vice-president from 1909 to 1910, and he even held the presidency of the Catalan Football Federation in 1913. and in its first editorial, published on 1 February, Masferrer pointed out the conduct that needed to be followed by the newspaper, which did not differ at all from his own: "We do not come to criticize anyone, we come to applaud and encourage everyone".