Vasco da Gama executives. This book told the story of the Copa Libertadores (played from 1960 on), stating that the tournament of 1948 was its antecedente (predecessor). According to the Conmebol Press Release of April 29th, 1996, Vasco da Gama's executives asked Conmebol's Executive Committee for the acknowledgment of the aforementioned honor, and the acceptance of Vasco da Gama as a participant at Supercopa. In April 1996, Conmebol's Executive Committee acknowledged the meaning and importance of the 1948 competition as the precursor to the Copa Libertadores (though Conmebol has not come to regard it as an official Conmebol competition), thus Vasco da Gama participated at the 1997 Supercopa Libertadores, former Conmebol competition to which were admitted only the previous Copa Libertadores champions (with Supercopa Libertadores not admitting the participation of winners of other official Conmebol competitions, such as Copa Conmebol). As stated by the Conmebol Executive Committee, Vasco da Gama's request for Supercopa participation was accepted "in acknowledgment of the sporting achievement and its historical truth" (as written in the 1996 Conmebol press release on the aforementioned acknowledgment). In 2014, Conmebol congratulated Vasco da Gama on the club's 116th anniversary, stating: "Vasco won the first tournament of clubs at a continental level in 1948, which would 12 years later become the Copa Libertadores which they won in 1998, coinciding with the centenary of their founding." See also Copa Libertadores References 1948 in South American football Defunct international club association football competitions in South America International club association football competitions hosted by Chile Club Atlético River Plate matches CR Vasco da Gama matches February 1948 sports events in South America March 1948 sports events in South America 1948 in Chilean sport 1940s in Santiago, Chile