Rugby meets capoeira as New Zealand Olympic team begins partnership with favela community in Rio de Janeiro
Athletes will give training clinics and donate equipment, while benefiting from cultural exchange during the Rio 2016 Games
More used to a round ball, kids in Mangueira throw a rugby ball around
Text: Sam Green Photos: Alex Ferro
New Zealand’s ambassador set the tone when she greeted everyone by saying “kia ora” – hello in Maori, the indigenous language of her nation. The next couple of hours saw rugby balls thrown, capoeira performed and new bonds established as the Kiwi Olympic team launched its partnership with the favela community of Mangueira in the north of Rio de Janeiro.
The principal idea behind the initiative is to create a two-way exchange. The New Zealanders will use sport to inspire youngsters in the underprivileged community, while the locals will share their culture with the visitors, enriching the experience of the athletes who come to compete at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
Capoeira, which mixes combat with dancing, is a traditional part of African-Brazilian culture
“It’s a great opportunity for us to engage with Brazilian culture and the people of Rio,” said New Zealand’s chef de mission Rob Waddell, who won a rowing gold medal at the Sydney 2000 Games. “Mangueira has a lot of young people who have grown up in challenging circumstances and this is a chance for our athletes to share their skills and experience, to provide inspiration, and on the flip side we will enjoy the exchange and learn from their passion.
“Mangueira has had a lot of success over the years: culturally, socially and in sport, and we hope to benefit from that too”
Rob Waddell, New Zealand’s chef de mission
Rob Waddell shows a youngster how to use a rowing machine donated by the New Zealand team
The initiative, which was launched at Mangueira’s ‘Olympic Village’ sports centre on Thursday (17 March), will see athletes from New Zealand visit the community during the Games and give coaching clinics and talks on the benefits of a sporting life. Waddell said he has already received “really positive feedback” from Kiwi athletes who are keen to “give something back”, including the legendary All Blacks rugby players. He said the project, which will also see equipment and kit donated, will be continued long beyond the Games.
Mangueira is perhaps most famous in Rio for its great Carnival traditional – its samba school were this year’s Carnival champions – so it was fitting that the show begin with a rhythmic gymnastics display to the sound of samba, before the capoeira fighters strutted their stuff and the fun moved outside.
The Mangueira rhythmic gymnastics troupe put on a great show for their guests
Waddell had a row-off against Felipe Maximiano, a long jump Olympic hopeful who represents the Mangueira club, on two rowing machines that were donated to the community. “It was difficult to compete against an Olympic champion,” admitted the 24-year-old, adding: “Athletes always have a good effect on youngsters, it’s a good thing for our community.”
Among the young people in attendance was 16-year-old Dayelle Francisco dos Santos, an aspiring sprinter and fan of US athlete Allyson Felix and Brazil’s Rosângela Santos. “My dream is to compete in the Olympics and I’m so proud the Games will be here in my city,” she said. She is coached by Jarbas Mascarenhas Junior, who is also from Mangueira and competed in the 100m at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games.
“This kind of contact with athletes from other countries will be a massive inspiration for the youngsters, especially having them here in our community, it’s fantastic”
Jarbas Mascarenhas Junio, Olympian and athletics coach
The young hosts charmed their guests from the other side of the world
Caroline Bilkey, New Zealand’s ambassador to Brazil, already knew Mangueira after bringing a group of Maori performers to the community last year. “It’s really important that when a team comes to a country like Brazil they get to know a bit about the local culture,” she said. “The athletes get a lot out of it and I hope the young people here in Mangueira will learn some new skills and benefit from the many other wonderful things that sports brings. It’s a mutually beneficial experience.”
