RIO DE JANEIRO : Before every World Cup match, television cameras capture footballers exchanging quick passes in tight rondos as part of their pre-game warm-up routine.
In Rio de Janeiro, however, that warm-up has evolved into a sport and culture of its own.
Known as “altinha”, the juggling game has become a fixture on Rio’s beaches and neighbourhood courts, where players keep the ball in the air using every part of the body except their hands and arms while showcasing tricks and teamwork.
“The feeling is wonderful,” said Patrick Emanuel, a 21-year-old who regularly plays near the Estádio Nilton Santos, commonly known as Engenhao.
“When we are playing, we get distracted, cut off from all problems,” he added.
According to filmmaker Cecilia Lang, director of the documentary “Bola Pro Alto”, altinha emerged on Rio’s beaches in the 1960s when beach soccer players used rondo-style drills before matches.
By the 1980s, the exercise had evolved into a game centred on rhythm, coordination and creativity.
“The goal is for the ball to flow so naturally and beautifully between players that they achieve a state of harmony,” Lang said. “No one is going to take the ball from you. So that moment when the ball comes to you, that’s the magic.”
The sport has grown beyond Brazil’s beaches, with supporters — including former Brazil striker and senator Romario — pushing for Olympic recognition.
“When that happens, I’ll apply to represent Brazil again in the Olympics,” joked Romario, a winner of the 1994 FIFA World Cup.
Altinha now features organised competitions in which players are judged on the difficulty of tricks and how long the ball remains airborne.
For some, the game has also become a profession.
Artur Marques, who frequently plays on Rio’s beaches, said he turned to altinha after failing to make it as a professional footballer.
“I started recording videos for the internet and realized I had found my place there,” he said. “Now I live off it, it’s my only income.”
