In the last week or so Maria Esther Bueno has been three times to Rio de Janeiro in the Olympic build up, fulfilling her duties as an ambassador for Rio 2016 and Bradesco, a major sponsor of the games.
“It feels a bit like commuting,” laughs Maria. “I seem to be spending a lot of time there, and at the two airports…”
“Last weekend, of course, I was at the inauguration of the new Olympic Tennis Stadium in my name, and then I went back for the [Brazilian] Olympic Committee annual awards ceremony and this weekend I have been attending the Beach Rugby.
“I am so thrilled about my stadium and the reaction that everyone is having to it. It is such a huge honour, I can’t tell you.
“I feel very privileged to be associated with the Olympics in this way.”
The Maria Esther Bueno Olympic Tennis Stadium
Maria Esther has been receiving recognition around the world, with coverage of the inauguration in many countries as well as throughout Brazil.
Here are some links:
- ITF: City of Rio honours Maria Bueno
- Tennis Today: Olympic Tennis stadium is named after Brazil’s tennis heroine
- Rio 2016: Rio 2016 tennis test event heralds new sporting era for Brazil
- Globoesporte.Globo.com: Paes inaugura arena olímpica de tênis em homenagem a Maria Esther Bueno:
- Tennispanorama.com: Players Approve Courts but Work Still to be Done at Rio Olympic Tennis Centre
- olympic.org: Brazil Mastercup proves a masterstroke as tennis venue declares itself ready for Rio
- Rio Times: Rio 2016 Tennis Test Event Finishes Over the Weekend
Bradesco has also produced a remarkable poster to commemorate this historic event that will be distributed all over the country. Here is the translation:
The Maria Esther Bueno Stadium.
To this player who goes on winning, a tribute more than well deserved.
Dear Maria Esther
An arena with your name and a legacy for the history of Brazilian tennis is an inspiration for all athletes who dream of following your example.
It is an honour for Bradesco to have you as one of our ambassadors and to have you attend the Rio 2016 Games by our side.
Congratulations and thank you
It is athletes like you that make Bradesco support Brazilian sports.
“I can’t tell you how touched I am by this incredible gesture,” said Maria Esther. “This poster is something Bradesco did not need to do but I am so happy they have!”
Brazilian Olympic Awards
Maria Esther was delighted to go to this year’s Olympic Awards Ceremony as the guest of Bradesco.
The Brasil Olimpico Awards were held at the Bradesco Theater on 15 December and it was a glittering event.
“It is a really special occasion when so many athletes from many different sports are recognised for their commitment and performances,” she said.
“I had the chance to speak to many of them, which is always a privilege, as well as meeting all the directors of Bradesco.”
Minister of Sports is George Hilton (L) awards Marathon Swimmer Ana Marcela Cunha (2L) and Canoe Sprinter Isaquias Queiroz the Best Female Athlete of 2015 and the Best Male Athlete of 2015, respectively.
Ana Marcela Cunha (marathon swimming) and Isaquias Queiroz (canoeing) were chosen the Best Brazilian Athletes in 2015.
The 17th edition of the Brazil Olympic Award also included an acknowledgement to the Brazilian medalists at the Pan American Games Toronto 2015 and to the best in 49 sports.
Tennis was recognised when Gustavo ‘Guga’ Kuerten received the trophy Adhemar Ferreira da Silva.
Carlos Arthur Nuzman, President of the Brazil Olympic Committee
Carlos Arthur Nuzman, President of BOC and the Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games Rio 2016 said: “I appreciate the effort and dedication of each one of you who are here right now, athletes, coaches, officials, and more than that, giving your heart to moments of great emotion.
“The emotion of competing at home, when hearts will beat faster than in anywhere else in the world. You will be with the Brazilian fans.
“This crowd that delights and follows us, always passionate, giving their warmth and support.
“I hope that this challenge will touch all of you, my dear athletes, with much pride and emotion.
“You will be turning into reality the dreams of more than 200 million Brazilians, in a delegation of less than 500 athletes, but each representing a large portion of these millions of people.”
Maria Esther thinks Brazilian athletes will feel increasingly inspired at the coming games.
“Excitement is building already and I’m sure as hosts Brazil will do very well,” she said.
“The ceremony this evening was very moving in many so many ways.”
Maria Esther Bueno received the special prize from Carlos Arthur Nuzman, Presidente of Brazilian Olympic Committee in 2013.
She knows how important recognition is and recalls how, at the 2013 Brazilian Olympic Awards, she received a plaque on behalf of Brazil’s 170 medal-winners at the São Paulo Pan American Games in 1963.
“It was an incredible honour to accept the award on behalf of such a fantastic group of athletes.
“Although I was unable to compete in the Olympics during my career, I did play in the Pan American Games, which was an amazing experience that I will never forget.
“You hear many tennis players, like Roger [Federer] and Rafa [Nadal] saying time and time again how much they enjoy rubbing shoulders with athletes from other Olympic sports during the games and what a lifetime experience it all is.”
The 2013 Brazilian Olympic Awards celebrated Brazil’s 170 medal-winners at the São Paulo Pan American Games in 1963.
Rugby Sevens on the beach
Brazil’s men’s and women’s sevens teams competed on Ipanema Beach on Saturday.
This weekend, Maria Esther attended the annual invitational beach rugby competition at Ipanema beach in Rio de Janeiro on 19 December to promote rugby sevens’ debut at the Rio 2016 Olympics.
“It was absolutely fabulous,” she told her website. “The arrangements were perfect and I’m beginning to understand the sport a bit better now so I really enjoyed the matches.
“It was 45 degrees [celsius] and they had to keep watering the sand so they could play, but we were in a shade stand, which helped.”
International rugby sevens stars competed in the event supported by World Rugby and run by the Confederaçao Brasileira de Rugby (CBRu), delivering excitement and interest in the high-octane sport that continues to grow within Rio and across Brazil ahead of the Games.
Following a successful debut in 2014, a stellar men’s line up saw Cape Town HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series finalists and Rio 2016 qualifiers Argentina joined by fellow Rio 2016 team Brazil along with Italy and Portugal.
A strong women’s line-up featured Rio 2016 teams Brazil and Colombia alongside Argentina and Uruguay in a compelling, action-packed event that was televised live on Sport TV 2 throughout Brazil.
It all took place at the 1,000-seater arena on the famous Ipanema beach alongside a dedicated children’s festival involving 500 boys and girls from World Rugby’s Get Into Rugby Impact Beyond Rio 2016 mass participation and social inclusion programmes, learning rugby basics in a fun environment.
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- The specially built temporary arena on Ipanema Beach (left) and the two winning teams – Brazil’s women and Argentina’s men.
Rugby is one of the fastest-growing team sports in Brazil, and with more than 100,000 children having been introduced to rugby in 2015.
“It’s always fun to go to the beach, especially in Rio!” said Maria Esther. “Ipanema is the most beautiful beach in the world so you couldn’t have a better place. There were so many people there.
“It was all a little crazy,” said Maria Esther.
“The matches lasted 10 minutes each way and there were no scrums and the players are not allowed to kick the ball in this version of the sport.
“Some teams have already qualified for the Rio Olympics and Brazil as the home country gets direct entry so the sport is becoming a bit of a favourite with carioca fans.”
While the 15-man rugby union sport was last contested in the Olympics in 1924, this fast-paced and intense seven-player discipline will be a highlight of the Summer Games next August.
Played on the same-sized pitch, this sport incites fast tempo and risk-taking as just seven players dodge, sprint, and dive across the wide turf.
The Rio Olympic Organising Committee will host the sixteen teams in August at the Extreme Park zone, where BMX cycling, mountain biking, and white water kayaking will also be contested.
“It has all been quite a whirl of activities,” concluded Maria Esther. “But I have loved the involvement and now I get to spend a nice Christmas with my family.
“Please wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!”
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- Merry Christmas!
