African Team in a Student Internship in Brazil joins 2nd International University Beach Games

MACEIO – In addition to the participation of athletes from eight countries, the second edition of the International University Beach Games will also receive an African team currently in a student internship in Brazil, which will compete in the beach soccer competition. They study in the Federal University of Roraima, in the North of the country, and the invitation to participate in the competition is part of the Brazilian University Sports Confederation (CBDU) programme to approach and promote sports, cultural, social and academic relations among Brazilian university athletes and university athletes from other countries. 

The team has 11 student-athletes, from Benin, São Tomé and Príncipe, The Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea Bissau and Cameroon. Management student Hosni Ferreira, a native of the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe, said they are all very excited to attend another CBDU event. “Our experience at the national University Games, last year, was fantastic. We didn’t win medals, but what we experienced was incredible and it was worth it. The International University Beach Games is another opportunity to continue to grow and develop ourselves not only in the sports field, but it’s also a way to increase our inclusion in the Brazilian community.”

According to the president of FISU America, Alim Maluf Neto, the initiative is a way to integrate students from other countries through sports. “We prioritize the importance of practicing sports, as well as the exchange of extracurricular and interpersonal experiences that the sport provides”, he said.

Elaine Morellato, member of the Department of Gender Equality of FISU America, spoke about the invitation. “From the beginning, everyone at CBDU and FISU America found this integration fantastic. I’m glad they invited the athletes to attend another out of state event, and this time an international event. I’m sure they will honour the invitation and the trust”, she said.

Other Participations

In 2016, the internship students participated in the 64th edition of the Brazilian University Games (JUBs), which took place in the state of Mato Grosso. The participation of a team a 100% formed by students in internship was unprecedented, and they left a legacy for the Brazilian university sport: they set the precedents so that other African university athletes could also participate in the competition. With their presence, CBDU invited the president of the Federation of African University Sports (FASU), Michael Malumbete, who participated in the event and signed a cooperation agreement for Brazilian and African athletes to make sporting internships.

2^nd International University Beach Games

Since 2011, the Brazilian University Sports Confederation (CBDU) has been staging the national beach games competition, and two years ago the Confederation started the process to organize the event on an international level. “The Beach Games is an event designed and developed by CBDU, and this year, with the presence of the African team, we take a second step in the development of the international event. Through them, we aim to strengthen the relationship with the African continent, making possible for other African athletes to know and participate in the international editions of the Beach Games”, CBDU President Luciano Cabral commented.

The second edition of the International University Beach Games will take place between 27 March and 1 April in Maceió and will feature 250 athletes from more than 10 countries, i.e. Chile, Paraguay, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Mexico, Uruguay, Colombia, as well as the African team. They will compete in beach handball, beach soccer and beach volleyball, in men’s and women’s tournaments.

Brazil will be represented by universities of the Alagoas state and by the winning teams of the last edition of the National University Beach Games, held at the end of 2016.

The event is realized by the Brazilian University Sports Confederation (CBDU), FISU America and the University Sports Federation of Alagoas (FADU), with the seal of the International University Sports Federation (FISU). Partnership: Ministry of Sport, Maceió City Hall and Onza Fabric and Industry.

(Source: CBDU)