Filled to capacity, this weekend Maracanãzinho Arena hosted two matches between Brazil and the USA, opponents in the Beijing 2008 Games final. And the crowd cheered at the arena that will host Volleyball in the Rio 2016™ Olympic Games. With a 3-1 (25-22, 25-18, 20-25, 28-26) victory on Saturday and another 3-0 (25-21, 26-24, 25-23) on Sunday, Brazil secured its place in the FIVB Men’s World League finals and it will now face Russia, the current Olympic champion on Wednesday in Mar del Plata.

Nowadays, world sporting events are true shows that include art, culture and a lot of fun. At Maracanãzinho Arena, the entrance of both teams on the volleyball court already gave an idea of the party that would rock the whole place. Applauded by the audience, the US team entered to the beat of Bruce Springsteen’s classic Born in the USA while Bernardinho’s team made their entrance to the sound of E agora o bicho vai pegar from Elite Squad’s soundtrack. The crowd went wild.

On the Volleyball court, the Brazilian team showed the reason they made it to the last three Olympic finals. After having secured a place in the World League finals, the team had important victories even with three of its greatest stars on the bench – setter Bruninho, outside hitter Dante and opposite hitter Leandro Vissotto watched both matches from outside the Volleyball court.

Now a first-choice player, setter William Arjona commented: “It’s very nice to witness the city on this Olympic Games vibe. We must seize this moment as best we can. People are starting to feel comfortable with this closeness to their idols and a lot of joy and a lot of fun are the result of that”.

The current team’s most experienced player, having participated in the last four editions of the Olympic Games, Dante played the last season for RJX/Rio de Janeiro and claimed that the Carioca supporters are among the most active in the world.

“The crowd always supports our team, in the up as well as down moments. They always show up at the most difficult times and manage to cheer up all the players. In 2016, maybe we’ll play the Olympic Games final in this palace of world Volleyball”, Dante said. He took a picture with the Olympic and Paralympic Games brand that he posted on his Instagram.

Thiago Alves, another outside hitter, recalled that the last time he donned the Brazilian National Volleyball team’s shirt at Maracanãzinho Arena, in 2011, was during a match against Poland for the world League. He plays along Dante for RJX/Rio de Janeiro and can’t wait to wear the yellow jersey once again at the Rio 2016™ Games arena.

“I often played here from December 2012 until last April in the Superliga (Brazilian Volleyball Superleague). I feel myself at home, I know all the court’s shortcuts”, he joked. “A lot of people in Rio are passionate about Volleyball. And the supporters fill the arena to capacity, they are always very proactive. And there’s nothing better than playing here. Maracanãzinho is, without a doubt, the best arena in Brazil”, he said.

The supporters’ party in this sacred temple of world Volleyball kept on going well after the match. Zecaré, the mascot, with its hilarious dance steps, the LED-creatures (as the entertainers with LED-covered suits were called), the cheerleaders and many other details changed Saturday and Sunday morning into great fun. And when former setter Fofão, one of last year’s Olympic champions at 43, appeared on the screen, she did not think twice: she kissed her sweetheart.