CULTURAL TRANSIT: THE EXPERIENCES OF EARLY ATHLETIC CLUBS IN RIO DE JANEIRO (1873-1883)

Abstract

In 19^th century Rio de Janeiro, when the sports field was being shaped, foreigners’ participation- notably UK nationals - played a major role, together with Brazilians. At the same time, Anglophones created their own associations. The early ones were dedicated to cricket, which was highly connected to British ethos. In the 1870s, they founded societies dedicated to promoting competitions of “athletic sports” - running, throwing and jumping, the beginnings of athletics in Brazil. Did these initiatives influence the development of sports habits in Rio de Janeiro? To answer such question, this study discusses the experiences of athletic clubs created under the Court between 1873 and 1883, the first stage in structuring the new practice. Newspapers and magazines published in the city were used as sources. At the end, it is perceived that it was a process of cultural transit, understood as an active stance of appropriation and re-signification of goods and representations.

Keywords:
History; Sports; Athletics; Rio de Janeiro