In an international effort to promote social transformation through sports, the city of Rio de Janeiro together with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the FC Barcelona Foundation and the National Basketball Association NBA, announced today an initiative to improve the lives of underprivileged children and youth in Rio de Janeiro.
Soccer superstar Ronaldo, NBA star Leandrinho Barbosa and Ana Moser, ex-volleyball player were also present to help celebrate the first step to a better future with the “Alliance for Sport and Development.”
This alliance will strengthen 18 ‘Vilas Olimpicas’ in Rio de Janeiro by promoting social inclusion through sports activities. The initiative will draw experiences from best practices by utilizing sports as a vehicle to improve the lives of children in need and promote physical activities for conflict resolution, violence prevention, education, health, among others.
According to the City of Rio, 140,000 people from the most vulnerable areas will be able to benefit from this project.
“The program of the Olympic villages developed by the Municipality will have a prominent role in the municipality’s overall policy of inclusion,” said Vice Mayor Carlos Alberto Muniz. “The arrival of diverse and knowledgeable partners consolidates the Olympic Village as the center of the political legacy that we have to develop, taking advantage of this prosperous moment for the City of Rio de Janeiro.”
This initiative has brought together key partners, such as the Government of Korea. The project is also aligned with long term efforts in the Favelas by the city and state of Rio de Janeiro jointly with the IDB.
