When you bring up the idea of sport in Andorra, most will immediately think of skiing in Andorra in the winter months. With more than 200 skiable kilometres on the Grandvalira ski slopes alone, the Pyrenean principality is one of the most popular sites for skiing in all of Europe.
Beyond winter sports, there is also a lot of summer sport in Andorra. For example, the microstate has a proud history in the sport of cycling, with its challenging mountain routes attracting professional cyclists, many of whom live in Andorra, as well as international competitions, like the Tour de France and La Vuelta a España, both of which have held stages in the principality. The country’s rugged terrain and high-altitude passes provide an ideal setting for both road and mountain biking. Similarly, that incredible terrain makes hiking a high participation activity in Andorra too.
Beyond skiing, cycling and hiking, there are so many other popular sports in the country and we’ll discuss them in this guide to sport in Andorra.
Tradition of sports in Andorra
Andorra’s sporting tradition is a source of pride for Andorrans, reflecting the nation’s love for outdoor activities and its ability to leverage its natural landscape to foster a strong sporting culture. Not only is there a high level of participation in sport in the principality, but several of the world’s biggest outdoor sporting competitions have been held within Andorra’s borders.
When it comes to skiing, the AUDI FIS Ski World Cup Soldeu is one of the most prestigious competitions to have taken place inside Andorra in recent times. As for cycling, the popular summer sport in Andorra, stages of the Tour de France and La Vuelta a España have both passed through the principality in the past. So, if you love watching live sport, it’s worth checking if there will be any major competitions coinciding with your next trip to Andorra. You might just be in luck!
Popular sports in Andorra
So, what are the other most popular sports in Andorra, after skiing and cycling? Well, several team sports are also widely watched in Andorra, such as football, rugby and basketball.
In the case of football in Andorra, the country has a professional club called FC Andorra which competes in the Spanish footballing pyramid. Following a change in ownership, with ex-FC Barcelona player Gerard Piqué heading the new ownership group, FC Andorra rose up the ranks and competed in Spanish football’s second division in the 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons, meaning some of the biggest and most historic Spanish football clubs were regularly visiting Andorra for their matches. Fans in the country can also see some of the best footballers in the world performing at the National Stadium when the Andorra national football team takes part in UEFA qualifiers every year.
As for Andorra rugby, this is also a very popular sport given that the country is nestled in between northern Spain and southern France, the two regions in those respective countries where rugby union is especially popular. There are several local sides and a high level of participation, while the Andorra national rugby union teams are ranked 87th in the world on the men’s side and 33rd in the world on the women’s side.
Then, when it comes to basketball in Andorra, this is a sport that has really risen in popularity in the past few decades. The local professional team is called Bàsquet Club Andorra, although they’re referred to as MoraBanc Andorra for sponsorship purposes, and they have regularly competed in recent years in the Liga ACB, the top division of basketball in Spain. Since 2014/15, the team has competed in the top division of Spanish basketball in all but one season.
Winter sports
Of course, winter sports are among the most popular sports in Andorra, which makes complete sense given the bounty of beautiful ski slopes spread across the country. While skiing, and snowboarding too, dominate the winter sports scene, Andorra also celebrates a wide array of other winter activities, such as snowshoeing and ice climbing, catering to adventurers of all levels. The country’s investment in its winter sports infrastructure has made it a top choice for winter holidays, attracting millions of tourists each year, reinforcing Andorra’s status as a leading winter sports destination and contributing significantly to the local economy.
Famous Andorra athletes
When it comes to the question of who are the most successful Andorran athletes in history, it’s important to put the success in relative terms. As such a small country, Andorra has never won a medal at either the Winter Olympics or Summer Olympics, meaning the Andorra flag has never been raised on that stage.
However, there are some Andorran athletes who have proudly represented their country in international sporting competition, like alpine skiers Victor Gómez and Alex Antor, or slalom canoeist Mònica Dòria.
Football, as the world’s most popular game, is another sport where some Andorrans have achieved sporting fame. One example is with Marc Bernaus, who was born in Andorra la Vella, who came through the FC Barcelona academy and who went on to play for several Spanish clubs, such as Girona, Elche or Las Palmas. Koldo Álvarez is another who deserves a mention, as he played 78 times for the Andorra national football team and has been the manager since 2010. He was once on the books of Atlético Madrid.
It’s clear to see, then, that Andorra is a country of sport, with high levels of participation, with professional clubs inside the Spanish sporting structure and with some of the world’s top sporting events even stopping by the principality.