Judo Celebrates the Olympic Day in the Host City of the Games
This sport was presented to 600 children from some communities of Rio de Janeiro
The Brazilian Olympic Committee (BOC) celebrated the Olympic Day on Wednesday, July 30th, at João Havelange, the Olympic Stadium located in Engenhão from Rio de Janeiro, offering various sports and cultural activities for about 600 children from SESI Citizenship Program of Complexo do Alemão, Penha and Maré. And the judo was one of the eight different sports participating in the event. Due to a partnership between BJC and the Judo Federation of Rio de Janeiro State, the coaches João Gabriel Pinheiro, Ricardo Lúcio and Wagner Lyrio were in charge of showing the children a little bit of the noble art taught by Jigoro Kano.
"In the presentations which lasted for about half an hour we tried to teach them a bit of the judo history and philosophy, namely values such as the discipline, respect, education and how to fall and get up. We also showed them some moves and we noticed that children loved it, " João Gabriel said.
The coming of the Olympic volleyball champions Giba and Fabi was one of the main points of the event, among many others such as the traditional Olympic Day’s Run; athletics, badminton, field hockey, wrestling, rugby and volleyball clinics, apart from judo. There were also cultural and educational activities as well as distribution of participation medals.
"These initiatives makes us inspire the children to practice sports and face the sport as a lifetime opportunity", said Fabi, who began practicing volleyball in a social project from Rio de Janeiro. "The volley came into my life in a very social way. Without being aware, I was practicing volleyball and staying away from some friends who did not follow the right way. I feel happy to have this opportunity of being with these children and I also see myself in them a little bit, "said the Olympic champion of Beijing 2008 and London 2012.
"This event is very important for the children because many of them have the opportunity to meet new sports. The event serves to attract the audience to the 2016 Games, too" Giba said. "Today it was a special day for the children as well as for me," added the Olympic gold medalist in Athens 2004, and silver-awarded in Beijing 2008 and London 2012.
For many children, who were between 6 and 13 years old, this was the first contact with a sports idol. "That day was really cool because I could play a lot. Giba is very cool, he even took a picture with me. The medal I won here today will hang on my bedroom wall, "said Rafael Silva from Alemão.
There are almost two years left until the 2016 Olympic Games, the Olympic Day showed new sports and the sports values for the children of Alemão, Maré and Penha. "After finishing my classes, I didn’t have anything else to do, but now I enrolled in a volleyball class. I also play football with my friends who live in the same community. It’s very good to practice sport, "said Raisa Barbosa, a resident of Maré.
IOC’s Anniversary – the Olympic Day is usually celebrated around the world on June 23rd, celebrating the anniversary of the founding of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1894. This year, due to the World Soccer Cup, BOC chose to celebrate the Olympic Day on Wednesday, July 30th.
