World Volleyball Day: Discover the Olympic Villages that reveal talent and transform lives through sport.

Seventeen facilities in Rio promote the sport, which has already won 12 Olympic medals on the courts with the men's and women's national teams - Photo: Press Release/SMEL

This Tuesday (July 7th) marks World Volleyball Day, one of the most successful and popular sports among Brazilians. The Rio de Janeiro City Hall, through the Municipal Sports Secretariat (SMEL), offers free classes to children and young people in 17 Olympic Villages in the municipality. The date marks the first public exhibition of the sport, held in 1895.

— Volleyball is much more than a sport: it's a tool for training, inclusion, and development for children and young people. And we offer free access, creating opportunities for new athletes to discover their potential, develop skills such as teamwork, discipline, and respect, as well as adopt healthy habits. Brazil is already a world reference, and we believe that the next talents can emerge precisely from the courts of our villages — says the municipal Secretary of Sports, Bruno Ramos.

In addition to teaching technical fundamentals, the classes help in the development of children and young people and encourage values ​​such as discipline, teamwork, respect, and perseverance. By expanding access to sports, the Olympic Villages promote health, inclusion, and quality of life. This is demonstrated by the work developed at the Padre Miguel unit, in the West Zone.

— Being a teacher at the Olympic Village has always been a dream of mine, ever since my time in Physical Education college. And this dream has an even greater meaning because I live in the community. I grew up believing that sport can be transformative, and today I have the privilege of seeing this happen firsthand. For me, it's much more than a place to practice sports. It's a space that welcomes, transforms lives, and offers opportunities — says Ingrid Barreto, volleyball teacher at the Mestre André Olympic Village in Padre Miguel.

João Fellipe Fernandes' journey illustrates how volleyball can transform lives. Enrolled in the same school since he was 11 years old, he found in the sport a path to personal development. His dedication to classes led him to pursue a degree in Physical Education at university. Today, he has returned to the project as a volleyball intern and has become a role model for the community's teams.

— The Olympic Village helped me overcome psychological problems, such as depression, through sport. I am grateful for having been encouraged to never give up and to understand the importance of the values ​​that sport transmits. Today I have the opportunity to practice the profession I chose precisely thanks to volleyball — says João Fellipe.

Volleyball has been part of the Olympic Games calendar since the Tokyo edition in 1964 and has established itself as one of Brazil's most successful sports. Since then, the national team has gained international recognition, with six medals in the men's competition and another six in the women's competition on the court. On the beach, the women have won eight medals, while the men have six.

There are still vacancies available, and to register, parents/guardians must go to the school's office with copies of the child's and parent/guardian's IDs, proof of residence, and a document confirming the student's enrollment at the school.

Check out the units:

– CIAD (exclusively for people with disabilities)
Address: Avenida Presidente Vargas, 1997 – Centro

– Miécimo da Silva Sports Center
Address: Rua Olinda Ellis, 470 – Campo Grande

Olympic Park
Address: Av. Embaixador Abelardo Bueno, 3401 – Barra

– Adílio Olympic Village
Address: Avenida Presidente João Goulart, s/n – Vidigal

– Aldo Miccolis Olympic Village
Address: Rua Bento Gonçalves, 457A – Encantado

– Dicró Olympic Village – Ramos Swimming Pool
Address: Guanabara Avenue, s/n – Ramos

Clara Nunes Olympic Village
Address: Pedro Jorio Street, 528 – Acari

– Dias Gomes Olympic Village
Address: Cambotá Road, s/n – Deodoro

– Dr. Sócrates Olympic Village
Address: Rua Bidu Sayão, 8 – Pedra de Guaratiba

– GREIP Olympic Village of Penha
Address: Rua Santa Engrácia – Penha

– Jorginho Olympic Village of SOS
Address: Estrada de Itararé, 526 – Ramos

– Olympic Village Journalist Ary de Carvalho
Address: Rua Paulino Sacramento, s/n – Vila Kennedy

– Mestre André Olympic Village
Address: 1782 – Padre Miguel

– Nilton Santos Olympic Village
Address: Jequiá River Road, s/n – Governor's Island

– Professor Manoel José Tubino Olympic Village
Address: Rua Cândido Benício, 2973 – Praça Seca

Oscar Schmidt Olympic Village
Address: Slaughterhouse Road, s/n – Santa Cruz

– Waldir Didi Pereira Olympic Village
Address: Avenida Alfredo Balthazar da Silveira, 335 – Recreio dos Bandeirantes