Sports and athletes in Argentina will be discussed at 3 p.m. today as part of Latino Heritage Month.

The presentation is called “Cabrera, Ginobili and Nalbandian: Changing the Dynamics of Sports in Argentina” and will be in the Charleston/Mattoon Room of the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union.

“My objective with this presentation is to show the influence of athletes like Angel Cabrera, Manu Ginobili and David Nalbandian in the shaping of Argentine sports,” said Vanesa Landrus, event coordinator.

Landrus, assistant professor of foreign language, will be the speaker at the event. She said there are many images and stereotypes when people think about Argentina, including tango, barbecue, Evita Peron and soccer.

“There is a lot more to know about Argentina, specifically in sports,” Landrus said. “These three athletes, plus Juan Martin del Potro, are changing the dynamics of sports in this country and the way we think of Argentina.”

Mark Valencia, vice president of the Latin American Student Organization, thinks it is necessary for Eastern and college campuses to spread cultural awareness besides students promoting their own culture.?

“People should also be opening their horizons to the Latin countries and the affect they have,” Valencia said. “There are a lot of Latin heroes who are people to look up to who have succeeded.”

Valencia thinks the Latino Heritage Month events are even more beneficial to attendees who are not Latino.

“We are already knowledgeable about our own heritage and people,” he said. “In regard to all the events, students, professors and community members should come out to the events to expand their cultural base and create discussion.”

Juanita Cross, director of Minority Affairs, also helped put the event together.

Heather Holmcan be reached at 581-7942 or haholm@eiu.edu.