Brazil: A Leading Example of School Sport in the world

Thursday 16 December saw participants of this year’s Brazilian School Games, the ‘Jogos Escolares Brasileiros’ attend a celebratory event, specially organised with Brazilian President, Jair Bolsonaro in attendance.

The event was a celebration for participation and achievements earned by school student athletes who competed in the Games which took place from 29 October to 5 November this year, and was hosted by Brazilian Secretary of Sport, Marcelo Magalhães, and Brazilian School Sport Federation (CBDE) President Antonio Hora Filho.

President Bolsonaro addressed the school students in attendance, saying: "As I speak to you, the generation of the future, the future of Brazil, I would like to congratulate each of you. In order to achieve overall good health, one must have both a healthy mind and a healthy body. It is our obligation to ensure you can achieve this through opportunities such as JEBs, to combine with your studies. For all you have achieved so far, we are proud of you".

Brazil has always been very active in the world of sport and school sport, participating in a large number of ISF events and having hosted several events themselves. Since they hosted the 15th edition of the ISF Gymnasiade, in Brasilia back in 2013, Brazil has continued on its journey of hosting major international sports events. From the FIFA World Cup held back in 2014 to the 2016 Rio Olympics, bringing with it an even more global approach and sporting infrastructure, to be used by future Brazilian athletes, providing a natural path for youth for years to come.

Ten years on from that event in Brasilia, 2023 will see this strong sport infrastructure be at the core of the 2nd edition of the U15 World School Sport Games when Brazil will once again host an ISF multi-sport event, gathering over 3000 school student athletes from each continent around the world and once again bringing to light the legacy left by the 2016 Rio Olympics.

ISF President Laurent Petrynka: “The CBDE has always been of the largest and most active members of the ISF, and the event will benefit directly from Olympic venues, with the full capacity of Brazil as host being highlighted on the global stage. Brazil will serve as an excellent follow up to the inaugural edition of this new ISF event.”