The quote, seen left, does illustrate ultimately the affect that American/English intervention (by way of Christian missionaries, and schools, like the Mackenzie School, and the spread of soccer and volleyball in particular) had in Brazil. Originally, these Western powers had economic and religious goals in mind, however, these goals came to be intertwined with concerns of health, hygiene, and play. Associations like the YMCA and the Playground Association of America spearheaded these concerns, and in time, “changed the cultural landscape” of Brazil.
‘Changing the Cultural‘ as well as The Early Evolution of Modern Sport in Latin America both acknowledge the imperial/colonial and economic interests that Western powers such as England and America had in Latin America, and that is not to be understated, however the positive and complete cultural shift that sports had in these areas is notable as well. Soccer, which is considered a sport with English origins, rapidly became the top sport in many Latin American countries, including Brazil. The article says that “In spite of recurring political upheavals, the legacy of the American School, Mackenzie College, the YMCA and introduced Western sports continued to grow in Brazil,” and these efforts have “benefited millions of Brazilians.”
It is worth noting that the Mackenzie College (formerly the American School, established in 1871), which was founded through missionary efforts was “the first school in Brazil in Brazil to offer mixed classes, which was new and shocking the the conservative Catholic country of Brazil. The school emphasized “hygeine and physical activites” in the curriculum. The YMCA also found itself having interest in Brazil in the 1870s, with the first YMCA is Brazil being set up in 1893, with the goal of “develop[ing] in children and youth a passion for knowledge and interest them in pursuing the types of careers that would contribute to Brazil’s betterment.”
Interests in Brazil, according to the article, started in 1890’s and early 1900’s, fueled by Manifest Destiny and the urge to take advantage of “commercial opportunities”, as well as “a commitment to extending the Christian gospel.” The transmission of these goals, through games and play was useful for both Brazil and the Westerners who wanted to spread their beliefs there, as “at the time that Americans began to arrive very few children attended school,” which was a problem, as laws such as Brazilian Law 630 regarded exercise in school, something that is important to having a healthy nation were not truly being enforced. Through a perfect storm of under met needs, and the desire to spread Western culture, Brazil was changed as a nation. Often times, we do think of foreign intervention as ways for the foreigner to “extend power”, and as stated, that was part of what Americans and the English were doing. However, Brazilians’ connected so deeply with the games and sports, particularly soccer, that it completely shifted their culture and provided opportunities that had never existed. Now, Brazil sits as a soccer superpower, and “If it had not been for English and Scottish engineers, who had brought futebol (soccer) to Brazil … this might never had occurred.”
