With activities due to begin in September, the process of selecting students for the new knowledge station at Engenhão Stadium has been completed. In all, more than 8,000 young people applied for the 600 places on football and athletics courses. Half of them made it through to the selection phase, during which the successful candidates, aged between 10 and 18, were selected.
Knowledge stations are human and economic development centers created by the Vale Foundation to help improve the quality of life and promote integrated, sustainable development in their local community. The latest knowledge station to open is located at João Havelange Olympic Stadium, known as Engenhão, the most modern stadium in Latin America, in the city of Rio de Janeiro.
Opportunity for new athletes
Qualified professionals and former Brazilian athletes, such as coach Darlly da Luz and former sprinter Michelle da Costa assessed each applicant’s specific talent and abilities. They will also work as teachers at Engenhão Knowledge Station.
One of the goals of Engenhão Knowledge Station is to help develop a new generation of athletes. Students who achieve Olympic performance standards will be transferred to the National Center of Excellence run by Brazil Going for Gold, a Vale program designed to develop athletes with a focus on the 2016 Olympics.
Find out more about the Brazil Going for Gold program