© 2024 WLRN
MIAMI | SOUTH FLORIDA
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Shark Attack In Rio! Footvolley Hopes Olympic Stage Means A Breakout Moment

Courtesy Pro Footvolley Tour
A footvolley player executes a "shark attack."

Could this be footvolley's breakout moment?

Footvolley is a Brazilian sport that combines soccer and beach volleyball. It’s growing popular in the U.S. – especially in South Florida.

But it's been yearning for a major international stage to play on – and may well have got it this week in Rio de Janeiro, where footvolley has been invited to hold a 23-nation tournament as part of the Olympics festivities there.

The competition starts Wednesday and features teams from the U.S.

"Having the Olympics as our backdrop is huge," said Sergio Menezes, a Brazilian-American from Miami who until recently headed U.S. Footvolley and is playing for the U.S. in Rio.

“This is a demonstration for footvolley's potential inclusion into future Olympics Games. It’s going to be held inside the beautiful 12,000-seat Copacabana venue that held the Olympic beach volleyball.”

Menezes, speaking to WLRN from Copacabana Beach, said international footvolley players there hope the tournament will resonate in the U.S.

"The buzz here is how they can help in terms of expanding the sport back in the U.S.," said Menezes, who has also led the Pro Footvolley Tour in the U.S. "The top players want to go to America.”

Footvolley’s marquee attraction is the shark attack – when players spike the ball over the net with their feet.

Tim Padgett is the Americas Editor for WLRN, covering Latin America, the Caribbean and their key relationship with South Florida. Contact Tim at tpadgett@wlrnnews.org
More On This Topic