Minas Tênis Clube

Lore & Background

The land that would become the first location of Minas Tênis Clube (currently Minas I) was originally assigned to become a zoo at Belo Horizonte's original urban plan, from the 1890s. By the beginning of the 1930s the urban growth surrounded the land with residential areas. In addition, it was very close to the Palácio da Liberdade, by then the official residence of the governor of Minas Gerais state. Thus the plan for a zoo raised environmental and hygiene concerns among the locals and the top officers of the state administration. Moreover, at the time the city had few entertainment and sports facilities. The then major Otacílio Negrão de Lima, aware of this gap, demonstrated the interest to establish a sports center to replace the original project of a zoo. Concurrently, prominent people from the high society in Belo Horizonte planned to found a big sport club to promote the practice of sports in the city. Necésio Tavares was the leader of this movement. He had previously created a volleyball team with his own name, and started the movement to get funding and supporting to found a club named Serra. The then 23-year-old named Waldomiro Salles Pereira, whom had the intention to found a club for the practice of tennis, get to know about Necésio's initiative, and approaches him to join forces, and to found a unique new club. Together, they develop the concept of the Serra Tennis Clube. The group, knowing the intention of the major to promote the sports in the city, asked him to donate the land to the foundation of the new club. The major agrees with the condition that the name should be changed to Minas Tênis Clube, and that the club's first president should be appointed by the then governor of the state, Benedito Valadares. All the interests were aligned, and the official act of the club's establishment was signed on November 15, 1935, in the headquarters of the Automobile Club of Minas Gerais. At the occasion, Necésio Tavares was appointed as the club's first president.

Reader's Guide

Minas Tênis Clube holds significance as a major Brazilian sports and social institution, particularly noted for its role in developing Olympic athletes. The club's professional teams in sports such as volleyball, swimming, futsal, judo, and artistic gymnastics have achieved national and international recognition. Its men's volleyball team is described as the most successful professional Brazilian team, with a record of nine national titles. The swimming team is one of the most successful in Brazil, having won multiple Maria Lenk and José Finkel trophies. The club's futsal team has won several regional and national honors. Beyond professional competition, Minas is recognized as one of the most important formation centers of new sports talents in Brazil, with approximately 900 youth athletes among its 1000 competing athletes. The club's expansion from its original headquarters (Minas I) to include Minas II, Minas Tênis Country Clube, and Minas Tênis Náutico Clube reflects its growth and enduring presence in Belo Horizonte's social and athletic life.

Did You Know?

• The club's original headquarters (Minas I) was built on land originally designated for a zoo in Belo Horizonte's 1890s urban plan.
• The club was officially established on November 15, 1935, with Necésio Tavares appointed as its first president.
• Minas Tênis Country Clube was originally a separate club founded in 1933, incorporated by Minas in 2000.
• The men's volleyball team is not the most successful professional Brazilian team; Sada Cruzeiro holds that record with nine national titles, while Minas has fewer.