In the final part of our recent look at the wider Brazilian sport industry, to complete the series of reports is an overview of a range of sports making up a small yet increasingly important part of the local market. As mentioned previously, with football reigning supreme at the top of the pyramid, only a handful of other disciplines such as volleyball and basketball get a look in on the Brazilian sporting scene, however many smaller, often grassroots driven sports are now gaining recognition, while recent moves to prepare the country for a strong showing at the Rio 2016 Olympics are also pushing the development of new modes.
Brazilian Institute of Sports Marketing figures from 2008 show that Brazil’s top six sports account for 88% of sport sponsorship in the country (see previous report for exact figures), with a wide range of disciplines sharing the remaining 12%, a mere R$40,266,000. Amongst these minnows, there is no doubt that some major opportunities exist in terms of development initiatives and long term investments, and the next few years should see a range of projects surface.
Below is an overview of some key emerging sports:
- Swimming – Brazil’s international performances have been improving in recent years
- Judo – A sport strongly promoted at junior level
- Other martial arts – Brazilians feature prominently in several fighting divisions such as cagefighting and Jiu-Jitsu
- Sailing – Solely for the elite but with an impressive following and international record, with over 250 facilities Brazil-wide
- Equestrian – Again, solely for the elite
- Boxing – Particularly in poorer North East region
- Team Handball - Practiced in private schools and some public, utilising existing Futsal grounds, while the Brazilian national team is regarded as the best in the Americas
- Golf – Mainly elite but growing in popularity, albeit from a small base of just 25,000 players and little more than 100 courses. Olympics inclusion from Rio 2016 should assist significantly
- Skateboarding – One of the most practiced sports in the country outside of formal competition, with many new ramps and facilities being developed each year
- Surfing - Strong professional and recreational participation, while Brazilians regularly feature on the World Tour.