Beach paddle game recognized as Rio cultural heritage

Celebrating 70 years of its creation this year, beach paddle ball, as known as frescobol in Brazil, earned local intangible heritage status in Rio de Janeiro on Monday (Feb. 9). The game was recognized as part of Rio's lifestyle and associated with the cultural landscape on the local beaches. With this recognition, it is now in a list of intangible heritage items that includes the bossa nova music style, samba schools, carnival street revels (known as blocos), and others.

Created on the sands of Copacabana Beach by a local resident in 1945, frescobol is played on the hottest local beaches and has become popular throughout the country. Similar to tennis, it is played by two opponents with wooden rackets and a squash ball, but not over a net.

The chairman of the Brazilian Beach Paddle Ball Association, Antônio Filho, says the recognition of the sport as intangible heritage comes as a present to Rio and opens up new possibilities. “(...) the city can boast that frescobol originated here... This [recognition] could pave the way for social projects at schools, with groups of elderly people, people with special needs, and others,” he said.

A survey by the Rio Heritage Institute (IRPH) found that the most popular beaches where paddle ball is played are Flamengo, Copacabana, Praia do Diabo (Devil's Beach) in Arpoador, Pepê and Posto 7 (Barra da Tijuca), Posto 9 (Recreio dos Bandeirantes), and Praia da Bica (on Governador Island). IRPH Chairman Washington Fajardo says the game “is part of Rio's local identity and lifestyle.”

The local authorities have given a status of cultural heritage to a total 57 items. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) defines as intangible heritage the “practices, representations, expressions, knowledge, skills (...) that communities, groups and, in some cases, individuals recognize as part of their cultural heritage.”

Translated by Mayra Borges