Sport in Brazil ‘bigger than ever’
Brazil has always been an extremely prominent sporting nation – particularly when it comes to football – and the country is set to host major events this year and in the future which are bound to attract worldwide attention.
In November last year, Sao Paulo’s Interlagos race track became the site of a historical moment as Britain’s Lewis Hamilton became the youngest ever winner of the Formula One Driver’s Championship, securing the title with fifth place at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Those who watched the event are likely to have the dramatic scenes from Sao Paulo etched in their memories as Hamilton overtook Timo Glock at the last corner to deny Brazil’s own Felipe Massa the title and the country will always been inextricably linked with the 23-year-old Englishman’s success.
Brazil will again host a pivotal grand prix race in the Formula One calendar as it stages the penultimate event before the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
The title may be won or lost in the country again this year and tour companies are already offering packages for motor sport fans wanting to witness the action at Interlagos.
Chris Fuzinatto, director of the Brazilian Tourism Board Embratur, confirms how significant sports are in Brazil: “Sports are very important for us as it brings the community together and also makes the younger people interested.”
Tennis is another big sport in the country and the world’s top professional players will descend on the Costa do Sauipe in February to compete in the Brasil Open.
Staged at a stunning resort close to the coastline in north-east Brazil, the tournament is an idyllic location for tennis fans and last year another little piece of history was made in the country as the three-time French Open champion Gustavo Kuerten bid farewell to his home fans at the Brasil Open before retiring from tennis the following month.
The country is also doing plenty to promote sporting events abroad, according to Mr Fuzinatto, who says the Brazil’s international marketing strategy, known as the Watercolour Brand, is used to promote tourism in different areas such as beaches, culture, sports, events, business travel and eco-tourism.
“We do combine segments to encourage people to come to Brazil to watch sports and take holidays,” he asserts.
However when it comes to sport, football supersedes all others for Brazilians. In fact, it is one of the ideas that tourists are most likely to come up with when asked to name something they associate with the country.
Brazil has produced some of the greatest ever footballers – Pele, Ronaldo and Kaka to name but a few – and in 2014, it will host the sport’s biggest tournament, the World Cup.
The country – which has lifted the Jules Rimet a record five times – is already preparing for the event, which it last staged in 1950.
“We are at a stage now of choosing – Brazil is a huge country and you can fit seven to eight Englands within Brazil – within 33 states and one federal district, we are now selecting which football grounds will host the games,” says Mr Fuzinatto.
No doubt in five years time, thousands upon thousands of football fans will be flocking to Brazil to see the sport played in the country where it is perhaps loved best.
“The Brazilian people are very sports orientated and are very passionate about football, about Formula One and we always have some big names in it,” asserts Mr Fuzinatto.
“Brazilians are more sport orientated now than they have [ever] been” he concludes.
