{"id":26190,"date":"2016-01-08T12:09:32","date_gmt":"2016-01-08T15:09:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.rioonwatch.org\/?p=26190"},"modified":"2016-01-14T09:14:13","modified_gmt":"2016-01-14T12:14:13","slug":"vila-autodromo-shows-rio-2016-the-true-meaning-of-sport","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/?p=26190","title":{"rendered":"Vila Aut\u00f3dromo Shows Rio 2016 the True Meaning of Sport"},"content":{"rendered":"

Clique aqui para Portugu\u00eas\"\"<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

On December 26, Vila Aut\u00f3dromo<\/a> hosted the\u00a0Liberators’ Cup<\/a> (Ta\u00e7a Libertadores da Vila Aut\u00f3dromo), a football tournament to celebrate the community\u2019s continued existence and resistance, despite recent intensification of pressure from the City<\/a>. The event continues the #OcupaVilaAut\u00f3dromo campaign, a series of\u00a0events, including the recent cultural festival<\/a>, to bring people to the community in support of residents. Through this campaign, residents aim\u00a0to show the community is not abandoned and give visibility to the struggle against\u00a0evictions, asserting\u00a0that \u201cVila Aut\u00f3dromo lives, exists and resists.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"LuizFour teams of five players each participated in the competition:\u00a0Pelada da Esquerda FC<\/a>, Radical Contra FC<\/a>, Remo(vidas) and Vila Aut\u00f3dromo. A scattering of spectators and a few teams with\u00a0substitutes meant around thirty-five people attended the event. The atmosphere was friendly and relaxed, with plenty of time for socializing in the much-needed drinks breaks. After a round robin, Pelada da Esquerda FC beat Radical Contra FC in the final to claim the trophy. The tournament was followed by a barbecue\u00a0prepared by the community, rounding off an enjoyable event with further opportunity to relax and socialize.<\/p>\n

Before awarding the trophy, Luiz Claudio Silva, a resident of the community for 23 years and one of the organizers of the event, spoke about the community\u2019s continued struggle to exist in the face of evictions<\/a> and threats from the City<\/a>. He said that events such as this are important not just to show the world that the community is vibrant, but also because \u201cthis struggle encourages us, because we feel that we aren\u2019t here alone and we aren\u2019t abandoned.\u201d This sentiment was reflected by the players who came\u2014Miguel, of the Remo(vidas) team, said they had come to \u201cplay football and celebrate this year of resistance\u201d by the community. Lucas, of Radical Contra FC, praised the atmosphere at the event, saying \u201cwe are very well received in these places.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Ta\u00e7a<\/a>
\nThis event is reminiscent of\u00a0growing global ideas around\u00a0football for development and\u00a0punk football<\/a>, both of which\u00a0focus much more on participation, inclusion\u00a0and enjoyment than on competition, exclusivity\u00a0and victory. Teams like Pelada da Esquerda FC and Radical Contra FC are organized for this form of football; Lucas explained\u00a0“the team was created with the intention to be on the political left.\u201d This is a different way of doing sport, challenging the highly professionalized Olympic Games which will descend on Rio in August. Instead of focusing on the profit margins and eye-watering salaries of professional sport, the focus is instead on enjoyment and camaraderie both within and between the teams.<\/p>\n

As studies repeatedly show that hosting mega-sporting events has little or no impact on long-term trends of physical activity in a population<\/a>, the International Olympic Committee should refocus on participation and enjoyment instead of allowing its\u00a0“Exclusion Games”<\/a> to be used as an excuse<\/a> to force communities like Vila Aut\u00f3dromo out of their homes.<\/p>\n

Luiz is already excited about organizing a second tournament in the community, because people reported enjoying the games, the food, the drinks and above all the socializing. The football pitch remains in a part of the community which the Mayor has repeatedly said will not be removed<\/a> for the Olympic Park being built\u00a0next to the community. However, threats from City officials continue to pressure the remaining Vila Aut\u00f3dromo residents to leave. Whether the Mayor makes good on his long-standing\u00a0promises of permanence<\/a> to the community remains to be seen<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Watch footage from the trophy ceremony and football tournament here:<\/h3>\n