Marina Sarruf*
São Paulo – Twelve employees of the Tunisian postal service are in Rio de Janeiro to participate in the 2006 World Indoor Labour Volley Championship, a championship promoted by the Social Service for Industry (Sesi) and by the International Labour Sports Confederation (CSIT). The competition brings together over 400 participants, both men and women, from 13 countries. The World Championship begins today (22) at Mount Lebanon Club, in the Leblon neighbourhood, and ends on Saturday (27).
According to the head of the Tunisian delegation, Moncef Bartegi, the objective of the competition is to bring together workers from various countries and exchange cultural and sports experiences. "It is a meeting between countries, but above all, it is an official Sesi championship," stated Bartegi, who is also the African ambassador in the CSIT.
This is the fourth time that Tunisia comes to play in Brazil. "We have already played in Recife, Curitiba and Rio de Janeiro. Each time we bring a different team," stated Bartegi, who is included in the delegation with 17 Tunisians. The Tunisian team includes 12 male players.
Apart from Tunisia and Brazil, the championship also includes teams from Mexico, Portugal, France, Finland, the United States, Italy, Russia, Austria, Lithuania, Latvia and Israel.
To the sponsor of the event, Bernardinho, who is the coach of the Brazilian Male Volleyball Team, the promotion of the sport in the work environment translates efficiency and productivity to workers. According to a study promoted by SESI among athlete-workers of the 2004 National Games, doing sports with work colleagues and bosses brings benefits like an improvement in relations and appreciation of team work.
One of the highlights of the program is the Challenge of the Stars, to take place tomorrow (23) in the Gym of the Bank of Brazil Athletic Association (AABB), in Leblon. The Challenge of the Stars is a game between Brazilian players in the 1992 and 2004 male national volleyball teams. Among those playing will be the world famous Tande, Carlão, Maurício, Giba and Giovanne.
International competitions
The SESI has been participating in international competitions since 1995 and is a member of two international confederations that promote sports competitions for athlete-workers: the Pan American Confederation of Labour Sport (Copadet) and the CSIT.
Among the international labourer-athlete competitions that the SESI has brought to Brazil are the Labour World Cup, in 2000, the Beach Volleyball World Cup, 2001, the Futsal World Cup and the Labour Athletics World Championship, both in 2005.
World Indoor Labour Volleyball Championship
Opening: May 22
Time: 08:00pm
Location: Ballroom of Mount Lebanon Club
Address: Avenida Borges de Medeiros, 701, Leblon, Rio de Janeiro
*Translated by Mark Ament
