Brazil in the Olympics: Only 4 Golds. Still a Record.

Brazil went back home with 10 medals from the Athens Olympic Games, which ended Sunday, August 29, in a ceremony at the Olympic Stadium in the Greek capital. From now on, international athletic attention will be focused on Beijing (China), host of the next Olympics, in 2008.

For 17 days events were held in various sports categories. Brazil achieved one of its best results ever in Olympic competitions, obtaining 10 medals, including 4 gold (a record), 3 silver, and 3 bronze.

In the last day Brazilians took the winners’ stand twice. First, the men’s volleyball team, which won the gold medal by defeating Italy in the finals.

Then, the Brazilian long-distance runner, Vanderlei Lima, who won the bronze medal in the men’s marathon, even after being attacked by a man in costume, who ran into the street and dragged him into the crowd.

Brazil took a strong sailing team to Athens, no doubt about that. The team of Torben Grael and Marcelo Ferreira won a gold medal for the country in the Star Race. The feat makes Grael the country’s greatest ever Olympic athlete with five medals—two of them gold.

The other Brazilian gold medals in the Athens games were in men’s beach volleyball (Ricardo e Emanuel), who defeated Spain 21 to 16 and 21 to 15, and Robert Scheidt who won the Laser Class sailing competition.

One silver medal was won in women’s beach volleyball by Adriana Behar and Shelda. Two bronze medals were won in judo  by Flavio Canto and Leandro Guilheiro. 

Getting Better

In June, Brazil held the first National Conference on Sports. The focus of the meeting was on sports as a factor of social inclusion, education, and development.

According to the Minister of Sports, Agnelo Queiroz, the conference marked the beginning of sports as a State policy, serving as a tool to help human development in Brazil.

In Queiroz’s view, it is necessary "to create a culture of sports being practiced by all, to live longer, with quality of life and far removed from diseases."

For the Minister, sports can be the instrument for social inclusion, "because it is a cheap and pleasurable activity, which children and adolescents want to practice, occupying their spare time."

The Minister also argued that funds need to be provided for sports. According to him, the government is studying the creation of a fiscal incentive law for firms to sponsor sports.

The Ministry of Sports reports that it will install five centers for gymnasts around the country. Queiroz declared that the idea is to use existing facilities and adapt them for Olympic gymnastics, which will reduce costs. He revealed that the necessary equipment will cost US$ 100,000 (300,000 reais). The first of the new centers will be in Manaus, state of Amazon.

The minister also announced that the Ukrainian, Oleg Ostapenko, who trained the Brazilian Olympic team will be an assistant at the new centers.

Agência Brasil

Tags:

You May Also Like

Brazil’s Suzano Joins Club of Eco Friendly Companies

Suzano Bahia Sul Papel e Celulose S.A., one of Latin America’s largest integrated producers ...

Brazil’s Trade Surplus Keeps Shrinking Due to Growing Imports

The Brazilian balance of trade is running a surplus (exports minus imports) of US$ ...

Brazil’s Lula Wants Constitutional Amemdment for Education Fund

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who announced measures, yesterday, in the Planalto Palace, ...

Brazilian Banks’ Profits Raise Market’s Boat

Latin American stocks were mixed to higher, with Brazilian and Mexican shares gaining on ...

Olodum Power

Tieta, Teresa Batista, Gabriela, Quincas Berro Dágua, Vadinho and Dona Flor. For many of ...

Brazil’s Didn’t Act Out of Self-Interest in Hong Kong, Says Lula

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said Monday, December 19, that his country ...

Stung by Brazil’s Snub Chí¡vez Is Ready for About-Face

The possibility of Venezuela to join Mercosur diminishes because of the reluctance of the ...

Brazil Wants Its Own Geostationary Satellite by 2012

The Brazilian Space Agency (AEB) wants to acquaint the population with the program it ...

Brazil’s Lula Tells UN Chief United Nations Must Change

"The path to Bali passes through BrasÀ­lia (capital of Brazil)". The statement made by ...

Brazil to Buy Dozens of Fighter Jets to Defend Amazon and Offshore Oil

The Brazilian government launched the process to buy at least 36 fighter jets as ...