More than 200 young people inaugurated the JUV Arena in Parque Realengo

Realengo Park hosted the JUV Arena Sports Trail on Saturday morning (August 30th), hosted by the Municipal Youth Secretariat (JUVrio). The event brought together approximately 08 young people, aged 200 to 15, participating in the Youth Pact Sports Trail, from different parts of Rio de Janeiro, for a program focused on sports, well-being, and community life.

More than just competitions, the event aimed to encourage youth leadership through sports, reinforce the positive use of public spaces, and encourage the creation of local sports teams. Throughout the morning, young people participated in activities that integrated leisure, physical and mental health, and the exchange of meaningful experiences.

The program included running and walking through the park, as well as workshops and sports experiences such as soccer, 3-on-3 basketball, footvolley, altinha, dodgeball, and extracurricular activities (capture the flag, tug-of-war, and group dynamics). There were also Muay Thai and self-defense classes, as well as a chat with guests Thaissa Santana and Lucas Medeiros, representatives of the groups Respeita Crew and Arte Corre Crew, who shared their stories of running as a tool for social transformation.

The closing ceremony took place in the park's amphitheater, with a collective picnic, speeches by authorities, and a discussion between the groups, reinforcing the importance of forming sports groups in their territories.

"Rio de Janeiro's youth find sport to be a powerful tool for transformation. Arena JUV demonstrates how occupying public spaces can generate well-being, health, and new perspectives for young people," highlighted Gabriella Rodrigues, Municipal Secretary of Youth.

Created in partnership with UNESCO, the Pact for Youth offers training, cultural and sports activities for young people in different communities in Rio, promoting inclusion, empowerment and personal development.