Sport in Chile that have been popular throughout the country. The country has some experience as host of major global sporting events such as the 1959 Basketball World Cup. The first sport played in Chile was "palín" (similar to hockey), first practiced by the Mapuche before the discovery and conquest of the country. The game was later called "Chueca" by the Spanish conquerors. Years later Europeans introduced other sports unknown in this country. Valparaíso is Chile's main port, and due to the emerging nitrate industry in the north, it became a crossroads for ships coming from Europe, bringing equipment and personnel for newspapers,
Sport in the Cook Islands similar to the sport of Samoan cricket or kirikiti). Most villages have teams and they compete in a league, following the end of the soccer season. It is popular among the older generation. Women's netball is a very popular sport in the Cook Islands, and the country has one of the world's top 10 teams, which competed in the 2007 Netball World Cup. Sport in the Cook Islands Rugby league is the most popular sport in the Cook Islands, with soccer and rugby union as the next most popular/played sports. In September 2009, the country hosted the 2009 Pacific Mini