Ciao Rio!

TRADITIONALLY it has been thought of as a country of beaches, football and carnivals. But the focus on Brazil through major sporting events like the Rio Olympics and the 2014 World Cup is fostering a deeper cultural understanding, according to Brazilians living in Scotland.

As well as sipping Caipirinhas, the cane sugar-based national cocktail, they claim Scots are signing up to martial arts like Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Capoeira, expanding their music tastes to take in Samba, Bossa Nova and Maracatu.

Numbers at Brazilian restaurants, bars and some language classes are up and Samba bands reported a spike in bookings in advance of the Olympics.

The opening ceremony, although understandably down on ratings compared with London 2012, pulled in 26.5 million viewers and highlighted Brazil’s indigenous people, forests and environmental concerns.

Fiaz Tariq, who runs the Cordão de Ouro Glasgow Capoeira group, had an extra eight pupils at his class yesterday, several inspired by seeing the Africa-influenced art form on television. “The Rio Games have definitely changed things,” he said. “Capoeira was in the opening ceremony and boxer Joe Joyce did it. People now increasingly recognise what it is.”

Luciana Nadalutti, from Rio, who plays drums with the Edinburgh Samba School and works as a freelance translator, said: “As soon as people realise I’m Brazilian they’ll ask me about the opening ceremony and so on. There is definitely an interest.

“As a result of the Games we’ve seen coverage of the Zika virus and of the politics in Brazil. When I hear people complain about living conditions here, or the traffic in Edinburgh [Brazilian cities are often gridlocked] it does make me laugh but I am also amazed by how enthusiastic people are for Brazilian culture.”

Luigi Aseni, owner of Boteco do Brasil in Glasgow and Edinburgh, said the bars had been busy over the Olympic period with many people coming with friends to watch events.