Another great project related to winter sports and skiing in Brazil is: Ski na Rua, a non-profit organization created by Olympic athlete and cross country skier Leandro Ribela, that develops an educational sports project with young people in high vulnerability situations in the São Remo community, in the western region of São Paulo.
Founded in 2012, the project has already served over 600 children and teenagers and currently has 85 young participants. The main idea of Ski na Rua is to shape citizens through sports. To achieve this, the project introduces rollerskiing, cross country skiing summer alternative, to children, teenagers, and young adults, aiming to make it a viable sport option and consequently improve the quality of life for these individuals.
Furthermore, the project has already developed athletes who have competed in important international competitions representing Brazil, such as Altair Firmino (2016 Winter Youth Olympic Games), Rhaick Bomfim (2020 Winter Youth Olympic Games), and Victor Santos (2018 Winter Olympics). Victor’s story was so impactful in the sports world that the International Olympic Committee featured him in a series called “Far From Home.”
Other athletes who stood out in the project currently compete in the Brazilian Roller Ski Circuit and other international competitions, including Thiago Silva and Cláudio Gustavo Oliveira.
The project’s results are so impressive that even the International Olympic Committee has supported it, not only financially but also by sharing this incredible story with the world.
“The idea came from our daily experience of training on the campus of the University of São Paulo. I always used the university space to run, cycle, and rollerski, and we would see idle children without the same opportunities. This reality bothered us because these children could be using this space more democratically, engaging in physical activity, interacting with their peers, and learning from sports,” says Leandro Ribela, Olympic athlete and founder of the project.
Currently, the project is primarily funded through donations from individuals and through partnerships with the Brazilian Snow Sports Confederation (CBDN) and projects that support the sport.
The project is based on values such as friendship, equality, solidarity, mutual understanding, and fair play, being a catalyst for change in the lives of many young people in the São Remo community. Currently, there are three to four weekly meetings that involve physical exercise sessions, rollerskiing, and complementary activities for young individuals between the ages of 6 and 21.
Brazil sets an example for us, showing that winter sports are not limited to cold or mountainous countries. The will to practice winter sports is the greatest force that can make skiing possible anytime and anywhere.
Sources and useful links:
https://www.facebook.com/projetosocialskinarua
https://olympics.com/ioc/overview
Photo credits: Gustavo Harada – Facebook Ski Na Rua
