Don’t Fall Off The Balance Beam In Brazil
Jul 27th 2007ericjhoroSports of the Olympiad
Ah…Brazil. It’s a wondrous South American country that knows a thing or two about bikini models and soccer superstars. Still, there are some things it apparently does not know about. Things such as fan etiquette.
During the Pan-Am Games in Rio De Janeiro last week, many of the foreign fans and athletes were appalled by the behavior of the Brazilian crowd. The crowd’s hometown hospitality included cheering each of the three times a 14 year-old Canadian gymnast fell of the balance beam, and trying to distract a trapshooter in order to help her Brazilian opponent. Apparently none of that is out of the ordinary for a Brazilian sporting event.
“That’s Brazil’s way,” said basketball legend Oscar Schmidt, who himself ruthlessly led the jeering at the gymnastics.
Clearly Brazilians think of themselves as a tough fans, but I don’t really think their spectating prowess can be acknowledged until some of them get punched in the face by a member of the Indiana Pacers.
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