A large group of Brazilian fans will cheering the winners of this year's FIVB World Grand Prix as they open their World Championship campaign at PalaRubini in Trieste
Trieste, Italy, September 20, 2014 – For at least one week Trieste, a city with a population of less than 200,000, will draw the attention of a country with more than 200 million inhabitants. It is all about women’s volleyball.
Brazil’s legends – this unrivalled squad have only lost two matches in two years and are the defending Olympic champions – have never won a World Championship but will be hoping their route via Pool B matches in Trieste will lead to the title.
B for Brazil? Many people believe it, many people hope it. Among them the supporters of Raízes do Brasil FVG, an association of 486 Brazilians who live in Friuli Venezia Giulia. They prepared a special welcome for their favourite team and organised, together with the Trieste Organising Committee, an entertainment programme scheduled to take place before the matches that the squad coached by Zé Roberto will play at PalaRubini.
On September 23, before the Brazil vs. Bulgaria match, singer Gilson Cordeiro will perform with a samba group. The Ambassador of Brazil to Slovenia, Katia Gilaberte, will attend the concert and the match as well. On September 27, before the start of the Brazil vs. Turkey game, the public will enjoy the performance of Nação Capoeira, an ensemble of 20 people. On September 28, before Brazil vs. Serbia, there will be a concert of the well-known Brazilian percussion ensemble Banda Berimbau that recently celebrated 15 years since their establishment.
Raízes do Brasil will remember these days forever while the eyes of volleyball fans will be on Jaqueline and her teammates. “There will be a lot of Brazilian supporters coming from Friuli Venezia Giulia and Slovenia,” explains Mrs. de Oliveira, the Trieste representative of the Brazilian Consulate with its seat in Milan. “We want to cheer our team on.”
Openness is the key word that characterises the South American country, openness towards other nations and cultures. The Brazilian merger between different cultures and races attracts like a magnet. Raízes do Brasil does not confine itself to supporting the local Brazilian community, but wants to be a point of reference. Its activities, besides legal and bureaucratic support, include also the promotion of culture and arts.
“We warmly welcome sympathisers or people interested in our country,” says Vanessa Vieira, one of the most active members of the association. “We are open to aficionados, but also to people who are just curious and want to know more about us.” Brazil is a melting pot of cultures, a home of music, a symbol of the joy of life and a place that has produced many, many sports stars.
After the disappointing football World Cup, Brazilian fans want to celebrate and see a smile on the faces of their beautiful volleyball champions.