Supported by World Rugby and run by the Brazilian Rugby Union, the event delivered a fitting celebration of rugby sevens at the 2016 Olympic Games as men’s and women’s teams representing Argentina, Italy and host Brazil will took centre stage at one of the world’s most iconic beach cities at its busiest time of year.
The event tookplace in the 1,000-seater arena on the beach. Running alongside the event was the Animal Rugby festival, with 150 children from across Rio (including those from a local social inclusion programmes), learning rugby basics in a fun and safe environment.
Rugby is one of the fastest-growing team sports in Brazil, and with more than 46,000 children having been introduced to rugby in the past two years, the Brazilian Rugby Union and World Rugby is committed to ensuring that Rio 2016 provides a platform to inspire and engage new participants and audiences.
World Rugby President Bernard Lapasset said: “We are excited about the debut of rugby sevens at Rio 2016 and the growth opportunity provided by showcasing our sport on the world’s biggest sporting stage.
“Rugby sevens’ winning blend of high-octane action, close competition and entertainment is proving a hit with young audiences. This is why we believe rugby sevens will be great for the Olympics, great for Brazil and great for rugby.
With it’s blend of high-octane action, competitive matches and festival atmosphere, rugby sevens is the perfect match for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and the Rio 2016 organising committee is excited about the value and opportunity that the sport will bring to the Games.
Rio 2016 Executive Director of Sport Agberto Guimarães, who met with Lapasset last month in Rio, said: “We are confident that the speed, skill and passion of rugby sevens will capture the attention and interest of people in Rio and across our sport loving nation. Seeing the Olympic qualifying get under way recently was another exciting step on the journey towards the Rio 2016 Games.
“We are making solid progress on the venue in the Deodoro zone and continue to work closely together with World Rugby as we move from the planning into the execution phase of the project. We have no doubt that rugby will integrate very well into the vibrant, multi-sport atmosphere that we are creating in Deodoro for the 2016 Games.”
Rugby sevens proved to be one of the hottest tickets at the Nanjing Youth Olympic Games earlier this year and an exciting competition attracted a world record Sevens crowd of over 150,000 for the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games. Tickets for Rio 2016 promise to be just as popular and fans can find out more at www.rio2016.com and further information about Rugby in Brazil at www.brasilrugby.com.br.