A group of brave nudists are competing in Rio’s Naked Olympics every weekend, in a stripped back version of the summer games. The sporty naturists wear just a suntan as they vie for medals in football, beach volleyball, swimming, sprinting and race walking on Rio’s only nudist beach.
There are also extra non-Olympic sports such as the tug of war, surfing, which is due to debut at the 2020 Olympic games in Tokyo, and Peteca, a traditional game in Brazil which is played with a hand shuttlecock.
The stark-naked games on the dedicated naturist Abrico beach in Grumari are a throwback to the ancient Greek athletes who also played in the nude to honour the gods.
According to Organisers of the Praia do Abrico (Abrico Beach) Olympic Games, people of all ages and all shapes and sizes are welcome.
Elisangela Santiago, who runs Rio’s Abrico Beach Naturist Association, said: “We decided we wanted to enjoy the Olympics in a novel and liberating way that paid tribute to the origins of the sport.”
“It doesn’t matter if you haven’t got an athletic bone in your body, the whole idea is to push out the boundaries and have plenty of legitimate fun while you happen to be naked.”
“Our games are all about encouraging people to feel good about themselves and promote a healthy and positive way of living freely and be at one with nature.”
Elisangela said: “We are giving out medals for all those who are good sports and who participate.”
The naked Olympic games on Abrico Beach are taking place every weekend between 9am to 5pm, and will end on 18 September, the same date as the Paralympics closing ceremony.
(With inputs from AP/Caters News)
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