Carlos Dittborn
Encyclopedia
Carlos Dittborn Pinto was a Chile
an football administrator. In his lifetime, he served as president of Universidad Católica
and of CONMEBOL
(the governing body
of football in South America
) and was the head of the organizing committee of the 1962 FIFA World Cup
in his home country.
general of Chile in Brazil
in the mid-20s
, Carlos Dittborn was born in Rio de Janeiro
in 1924, but returned to Chile when he was 4 years old. He became involved with football from a young age. Between 1953 and 1954 he was president of Santiago
multi-sports club Universidad Católica, most famous for its football branch
. During Dittborn's two-years term, La Católica won the national league once, in 1954.
in 1962. Dittborn travelled to many nations presenting the country as a good host for the tournament. The following year, Dittborn was elected president of CONMEBOL, succeeding fellow countryman Luis Hermosilla. In this post he attended the 30th FIFA Congress
, in Lisbon
, Portugal
, where he made a passionate speech to convince the delegates to vote for Chile. At the end, he famously pronounced the phrase "Porque nada tenemos, lo haremos todo" ("Because we have nothing, we will do everything"). This was a response to Raúl Colombo, representative of Argentina
- one of Chile's opponents in the bidding -, who ended his own speech with "Podemos hacer el Mundial mañana mismo. Lo tenemos todo" ("We can start the World Cup tomorrow. We have it all").
Chile won the bid 32 votes to 11 against Argentina (another contestant, West Germany
, withdrew before the voting could take place), and Dittborn was selected head of the World Cup organizing committee. With full support from the federal government, work was started in Chile. However, on May 21, 1960, a massive
earthquake
struck the country, followed by an even bigger one the next day. The second one was the most powerful earthquake ever recorded on Earth, peaking at 9.5 on the Richter scale
.
The earthquakes destroyed many cities that were supposed to host World Cup matches, such as Concepción
, Talca
and Valdivia
. Other options, like Antofagasta
and Viña del Mar
, could not handle the expenses involved in being a host city. Dittborn even had a meeting with president Jorge Alessandri
to return the money lent by the government. But help came from various football federations and even from FIFA - with whom Dittborn personally pleaded to keep the tournament in the country - and the organizing committee was able to put the event running again. In face of the situation, Dittborn's words at the FIFA Congress became somewhat of a slogan for Chile's recovery, as well as for the tournament.
. Whatever the reason, it is believed that the excessive amount of effort he put in making the World Cup happen ended up causing his untimely death.
In Dittborn's honor, each player of the Chilean national team played the World Cup with a black stripe taped under his uniform's badge. One of the stadiums used in the competition, in Arica
, was posthumously named after him
. In addition, a friendly tournament between Argentina
and Chile was established in 1962, and it was named Copa Carlos Dittborn Pinto.
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
an football administrator. In his lifetime, he served as president of Universidad Católica
Club Deportivo Universidad Católica
Club Deportivo Universidad Católica is a professional football club based in Santiago, Chile, which plays in the Primera División.Universidad Católica is one of the most successful and popular football clubs in Chile and considered one of the three "big teams"...
and of CONMEBOL
CONMEBOL
The South American Football Confederation , commonly known as CONMEBOL , is the continental governing body of association football in South America and it is one of FIFA's six continental confederations...
(the governing body
Sport governing body
A sport governing body is a sports organization that has a regulatory or sanctioning function. Sport governing bodies come in various forms, and have a variety of regulatory functions. Examples of this can include disciplinary action for rule infractions and deciding on rule changes in the sport...
of football in South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
) and was the head of the organizing committee of the 1962 FIFA World Cup
1962 FIFA World Cup
The 1962 FIFA World Cup, the seventh staging of the World Cup, was held in Chile from 30 May to 17 June. It was won by Brazil, who retained the championship by beating Czechoslovakia 3–1 in the final...
in his home country.
Early life
Son of Eugenio Dittborn, ConsulConsul (representative)
The political title Consul is used for the official representatives of the government of one state in the territory of another, normally acting to assist and protect the citizens of the consul's own country, and to facilitate trade and friendship between the peoples of the two countries...
general of Chile in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
in the mid-20s
1920s
File:1920s decade montage.png|From left, clockwise: Third Tipperary Brigade Flying Column No. 2 under Sean Hogan during the Irish Civil War; Prohibition agents destroying barrels of alcohol in accordance to the 18th amendment, which made alcoholic beverages illegal throughout the entire decade; In...
, Carlos Dittborn was born in Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
in 1924, but returned to Chile when he was 4 years old. He became involved with football from a young age. Between 1953 and 1954 he was president of Santiago
Santiago
Santiago is the capital city of Chile. Santiago may also refer to:*Santiago *Santiago , a Spanish given name*Santiago!, a shortened form of the Reconquista battle cry "Santiago y cierra, España"...
multi-sports club Universidad Católica, most famous for its football branch
Club Deportivo Universidad Católica
Club Deportivo Universidad Católica is a professional football club based in Santiago, Chile, which plays in the Primera División.Universidad Católica is one of the most successful and popular football clubs in Chile and considered one of the three "big teams"...
. During Dittborn's two-years term, La Católica won the national league once, in 1954.
1962 FIFA World Cup
Still in 1954, the Chilean Football Federation launched Chile's bid to host the FIFA World CupFIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
in 1962. Dittborn travelled to many nations presenting the country as a good host for the tournament. The following year, Dittborn was elected president of CONMEBOL, succeeding fellow countryman Luis Hermosilla. In this post he attended the 30th FIFA Congress
FIFA Congress
The FIFA Congress is the supreme legislative body of the International Federation of Association Football , commonly known by the acronym FIFA . FIFA is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football.The congress may be ordinary or extraordinary...
, in Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
, Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, where he made a passionate speech to convince the delegates to vote for Chile. At the end, he famously pronounced the phrase "Porque nada tenemos, lo haremos todo" ("Because we have nothing, we will do everything"). This was a response to Raúl Colombo, representative of Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
- one of Chile's opponents in the bidding -, who ended his own speech with "Podemos hacer el Mundial mañana mismo. Lo tenemos todo" ("We can start the World Cup tomorrow. We have it all").
Chile won the bid 32 votes to 11 against Argentina (another contestant, West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
, withdrew before the voting could take place), and Dittborn was selected head of the World Cup organizing committee. With full support from the federal government, work was started in Chile. However, on May 21, 1960, a massive
1960 Concepción earthquake
The 1960 Concepción earthquake was actually a succession of three destructive earthquakes that happened between 21 and 22 May 1960.The first was on May 21 at 06:02 UTC-4. Its epicenter was west of Curanilahue, Biobío Region, Chile, and its magnitude was 7,9 or 8,3MW and 7,3 or 7,5MS...
earthquake
Earthquake
An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves. The seismicity, seismism or seismic activity of an area refers to the frequency, type and size of earthquakes experienced over a period of time...
struck the country, followed by an even bigger one the next day. The second one was the most powerful earthquake ever recorded on Earth, peaking at 9.5 on the Richter scale
Richter magnitude scale
The expression Richter magnitude scale refers to a number of ways to assign a single number to quantify the energy contained in an earthquake....
.
The earthquakes destroyed many cities that were supposed to host World Cup matches, such as Concepción
Concepción, Chile
Concepción is a city in Chile, capital of Concepción Province and of the Biobío Region or Region VIII. Greater Concepción is the second-largest conurbation in the country, with 889,725 inhabitants...
, Talca
Talca
Talca is a city and commune in Chile located about south of Santiago, and is the capital of both Talca Province and Maule Region . As of the 2002 census, the city had a population of 193,755....
and Valdivia
Valdivia
-Geography:*Chile** Valdivia, Chile, a city and municipality in the Province of Valdivia** Valdivia River, a river which begins in the city of Valdivia** Valdivia Province, the Province of Valdivia...
. Other options, like Antofagasta
Antofagasta
Antofagasta is a port city in northern Chile, about north of Santiago. It is the capital of Antofagasta Province and Antofagasta Region. According to the 2002 census, the city has a population of 296,905...
and Viña del Mar
Viña del Mar
Viña del Mar , is a city and commune on central Chile's Pacific coast. Its long stretches of white sandy beaches are a major attraction for national and international tourists. The city is Chile's main tourist attraction. Known as "La Ciudad Jardín" , Viña del Mar is a Chilean Municipality located...
, could not handle the expenses involved in being a host city. Dittborn even had a meeting with president Jorge Alessandri
Jorge Alessandri
Jorge Alessandri Rodríguez was the 27th President of Chile from 1958 to 1964, and was the candidate of the Chilean right in the crucial presidential election of 1970...
to return the money lent by the government. But help came from various football federations and even from FIFA - with whom Dittborn personally pleaded to keep the tournament in the country - and the organizing committee was able to put the event running again. In face of the situation, Dittborn's words at the FIFA Congress became somewhat of a slogan for Chile's recovery, as well as for the tournament.
Death
Dittborn would not live to see his biggest accomplishment come to life. On April 28, 1962 (little more than a month before the start of the World Cup), at age 38, he suffered a fatal heart attack. A different source, the 2010 book 1962: El mito del Mundial chileno, written by Chilean journalist Daniel Matamala, states that Dittborn's death was actually caused by severe pancreatitisPancreatitis
Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas. It occurs when pancreatic enzymes that digest food are activated in the pancreas instead of the small intestine. It may be acute – beginning suddenly and lasting a few days, or chronic – occurring over many years...
. Whatever the reason, it is believed that the excessive amount of effort he put in making the World Cup happen ended up causing his untimely death.
In Dittborn's honor, each player of the Chilean national team played the World Cup with a black stripe taped under his uniform's badge. One of the stadiums used in the competition, in Arica
Arica
Arica is a city in northern Chile. "Arica" may also refer to:Places* Arica and Parinacota Region, Chile* Arica Airport , Chile* Arica, Amazonas, town in Colombia* Rio Aricá-açu, tributary of the Cuiabá River south of Cuiabá, BrazilOther...
, was posthumously named after him
Estadio Carlos Dittborn
Estadio Carlos Dittborn is a multi-purpose stadium in Arica, Chile. It is currently used mostly for football matches. The stadium holds 17,786 people and was built in 1962 as a venue for the 1962 World Cup, which was hosted by Chile...
. In addition, a friendly tournament between Argentina
Argentina national football team
The Argentina national football team represents Argentina in association football and is controlled by the Argentine Football Association , the governing body for football in Argentina. Argentina's home stadium is Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti and their head coach is Alejandro...
and Chile was established in 1962, and it was named Copa Carlos Dittborn Pinto.