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Esplanada dos Ministérios, Ministério da Justiça,
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PRESS RELEASE
Brasília (Brazil), 25 July - The Ministry of Sports of the Government of Brazil and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) are launching a new awareness campaign to reduce drug use and violence among youth. With the participation of famous Brazilian athletes, two video spots were produced to send the message that sports are a great way to avoid drug abuse, crime and violence. The spots were released today and will be broadcast by different TV networks in Brazil. UNODC will also distribute the material in other countries.
The videos feature the football player Robinho (from Santos Football Club, currently the Brazilian national champion) and the tennis player Flávio Saretta. Playing with a group of kids, they encourage young people to get involved with sports in order to develop healthy bodies and healthy minds. "The more you practice sports, the less chance you have of getting into trouble", says Robinho. "Whoever practices sports takes care of his health and stays away from drugs", affirms Saretta. Both urge youth to "be smart" and conclude that not only is sport cool, but it is a tremendous way to avoid drugs and violence.
The video spots are based on the success achieved by the worldwide campaign "Sports. Not Drugs", launched by UNODC in 2001. With the support of different athletes around the world, the "Sports. Not Drugs" campaign has raised awareness about drug abuse and promoted a healthy life>
Brazil's Ministry of Sports was created by the new federal administration to give a more important role to this activity within the perspective of social development. Minister of Sports Mr. Agnelo Queiroz has declared that sport must be used to keep vulnerable populations away from drugs and violence and as a tool for education, development and social insertion.
