The sporting event is supplemented by artistic presentations every evening after athletic events have come to an end.[5] The athletics portion of the events is attended by some 20,000 spectators, while the cultural events receive upwards of 150,000 guests.[6]
For many years the event was held in San Juan, but in 1993 it was moved to the city of Ponce, where - except for 2010 and 2016 – it has been held since. The week-long event takes place during the month of April.[7] Due to the 2020 Puerto Rico earthquakes in the Ponce area, the 2020 edition of the Justas was moved from Ponce and were scheduled to take place in Mayagüez from 23 to 25 April at the Jose Antonio Figueroa Freyle Stadium.[8] However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Liga Atlética Interuniversitaria (LAI) announced on 15 March 2020, that the event was being suspended and that a new future date would be sought.[9] Given the island-wide COVID-19 curfew and lockdown ordered by the Government of Puerto Rico subsequent to the 15 March LAI suspension decision date, on 13 April 2020 the LAI announced the event could not be held and canceled it for the remainder of the 2020 season.[10] The 2021 version of the event was also cancelled due to the pandemic.[11][12] The 2022 season is scheduled for 1-7 May 2022.[13]
Originally it included only male participants but starting with the 1969-1970 academic year women began competing as well. Las Justas had been moved to Ponce in 1993 as a test for the 1993 Central American and Caribbean Games.[5] For many years the event was held in San Juan, but in 1993[15] the event was moved to the city of Ponce[16] which has all the required facilities for holding the event.[17] In 2010 the event was held in Mayagüez in preparation for the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games.[18] The event resumed in Ponce in 2011, and continued in Ponce in 2012.[19]
With over 200,000[7] people attending Las Justas every year, security has been a major concern.[24] In 2010, for example, 13 people were arrested for drug activities during the events.[1] Las Justas, it is said, has evolved into a Puerto Rican-style Spring Break.[25] Close to 1,500 security personnel patrol the event for security.[7] A number of items are not permitted in the areas where activities of Las Justas are celebrated, including both sporting events and associated musical celebrations. Coolers, liquids not in their original containers, glass bottles, umbrellas, baseball bats, canes, and fire arms are some of the items that are excluded.[26] In 2012, Enrique Arrarás Mir, the Commissioner of the event, said that “the safest place in all of Puerto Rico during the celebration of Las Justas will be the city of Ponce”.[23] In 2011, in Mayaguez, there were also arrests for drunkness and drug trafficking.[27] In 2014, electronic scanners were implemented at checkpoints, doing away with the former and slower manual frisk system.[28]
Economy
In 2009, it was estimated that Las Justas generate close to $6 million USD in income resulting from food and other sales as well as lodging.[7] In addition to donating the use of the facilities throughout the city,[29] the Ponce Municipal Government also contributes $200,000 to the costs of celebrating Las Justas in Ponce.[30][31]
Broadcast
The events are relayed via DIRECTV (Puerto Rico Channel 161) and via Canal Universitario Ana G. Méndez “Sistema TV” on channels 40 and 26, as well as streamed via www.sistematv.com.[19]
According to Gabrielle Paese, Las Justas have become “a power struggle between just two universities: [Universidad del ] Turabo, the Caguas school in the Ana G. Mendez system, versus San German’s Inter American University. Led by two strong track coaches (Luis Dieppa of Turabo and Freddy Vargas of Inter American U., respectively) the schools compete for the overall title. That means the meet becomes more about which school accumulates the most points and less about individual performance.”[25]
^Para las Justas 2011: Pronostican cifra récord de asistencia. (Title in printed version: "Pronostican las Justas mas concurridas de la historia.") Jason Rodriguez Grafal. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. (Title in printed version: "Pronostican las Justas mas concurridas de la historia." Year 29. Issue 1427. Page 4.) 6 April 2011. Retrieved 28 November 2012.
^Las Justas se quedan en Ponce. Amigos de Ponce. 21 January 2010. Univision. (Originally published in El Nuevo Dia Guaynabo, Puerto Rico) Retrieved 4 August 2012.
^ abPonce se duplicará durante las Justas. Jason Rodríguez Grafal. Ponce, Puerto Rico: La Perla del Sur. Year 30. Issue 1480. Page 4. 11 April 2012. Retrieved 4 August 2012.
^Se apercibe Ponce para las Justas.Archived 2012-05-04 at the Wayback Machine Raúl Camilo Torres. El Vocero. San Juan, Puerto Rico. 18 April 2012. Retrieved 27 November 2012. There is an error in the news media report: Sixto Escobar is not located in Ponce, but in San Juan. As such the news report should say Paquito Montaner which is the stadium in Ponce for baseball, track and field or other similar athletic activities
^ abPonce se duplicará durante las Justas. Jason Rodríguez Grafal. Ponce, Puerto Rico: La Perla del Sur. Year 30. Issue 1480. Page 4. 11 April 2012. Retrieved 27 November 2012.
^INTER y UMET ganan las Justas 2013. Zacha Acosta. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 21 April 2013. (Printed edition: Se Cumple la Profecia de las Justas. 21 April 2013. Year 31. Issue 1534. Page 53.) Retrieved 24 April 2013.
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