Public policies and sports in marginalised communities: the case of Cidade de Deus, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Abstract

Significant economic development has been experienced by Brazilian society in recent years, leading to important changes in its social structures. The country's success in attracting sport mega-events has resulted in the media increasingly portraying the current period as Brazil's “sport decade.” This paper considers the phenomenon of sport participation in Brazil in the context of significant investments in sport mega-events. In particular, it considers how the Brazilian government has been delivering sport and physical activity opportunities for low socio-economic groups and the extent to which people living in a marginalised community have benefited from these developments. This involves an analysis of sport and physical activity projects and programmes supported by the Brazilian federal government in the community of Cidade de Deus, one of the most densely populated favelas in Rio de Janeiro. The area is located close to the Olympic Park, which will host most of the key facilities for the 2016 Olympic Games and so is a community that could be significantly impacted, positively or negatively, by the hosting of the event. The results of the investigation provide insights into the developments that have occurred in the provision of sport and physical activity opportunities to this marginalised community and the role public policies play in facilitating access to sport and physical activity.

Keywords:

• sporting mega-events
• low SES communities
• policy
• leisure time physical activity

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the International Olympic Committee's Olympic Studies Centre for their support in funding this study.

Notes

1. LTPA is defined as “recreational and sport physical activity, including a range of activities conducted specifically for enjoyment, social, competitive or fitness purposes, performed in leisure or discretionary time” (Craike, Hibbins, & Cuskelly, 2010, p. 21).

2. An assessment report was made publicly available for the first (and only) time in 2010. However, the evaluation was based on an opinion survey with a small, selected sample of participants and family members, focusing little on behaviour change and mostly on general practical issues such as the quality of facilities and enjoyment of activities.

3. Only for contracts that include more than 19 nuclei or 2000 participating children/youth.

4. All nuclei need to offer LTPA activities plus “complementary” activities.

5. Praça da Juventude is yet another federal government project targeting communities located in urban areas which have limited or no access to public sport and leisure facilities. It is a programme designed by the Ministry of Sport and implemented with state and local government support, as well as through the abovementioned partnership with the Ministry of Justice (Ministério do Esporte, 2012a).