Learn English – Has the meaning to the question “Do you mind” changed

"In place" is an idiom, meaning:

1. In the appropriate or usual position or order: With everything in place, she started the slide show.
2. In the same spot; without moving forwards or backwards: While marching in place, the band played a popular tune.

"Put in place" can be a combination of the literal "put" and the idiomatic "in place", in which case it means positioned correctly, returned to its proper location, or placed where it currently is.

"Put in place" can also be an idiom in its own right, meaning established or implemented, usually referring to a system, a social structure or an institution, and often not involving any actual objects being relocated. Similarly (like with your example above) it can also mean "constructed" or "assembled" when referring to a useful physical stationary object, like your shelters for books. It could also mean that the individual organized, managed or funded the establishment of a system, institution, piece of infrastructure, etcetera, through proxies who performed the actual work.

Being "put in place" as a person takes on a more negative context and indicates being scolded, punished, reminded of authority or reminded of one's proper position in a social structure.

I think it is poorly written, the author's intent is not clear.

The general pattern is something like

never mind {apparent disadvantage} - {point out achievement}

the ordering can vary

In this case the apparent disadvantage is the obscurity of the sport in that country. The achievement is winning.

To put it another way, the team's fellow countrymen and women are very enthusiastic about this victory and do not mind that they never heard of the sport before.

Alternatively, their enthusiasm is despite the sport's obscurity.