A passion listed by the City Hall

Decree makes Flamengo fans a Cultural Asset of the City

Photo caption: END OF THE year celebration: Márcio Braga lifts the trophy offered by the CBF to Flamengo fans

Decisive in Flamengo's reaction, honored by the CBF, highlighted on the FIFA website, Flamengo's fans will receive another tribute today: in the Official Gazette, the City Hall will publish a decree registering the red-black fans as a Cultural Asset of the City.

The decision was made last Tuesday during a meeting between Rio de Janeiro Mayor Cesar Maia and his staff. In an email, the mayor justified the decision by citing recent demonstrations by Flamengo fans, who averaged 39.221 paying spectators per game in the Brazilian Championship.

"It demonstrated the character of popular culture in the process of mobilization, in addition to reinforcing Rio's centrality. The mass choreography, the mass singing. For everyone, this characterizes popular culture and should be marked as such," said Cesar Maia, an avowed Botafogo fan.

Excited by the news, Flamengo president Márcio Braga said he will contact the mayor to organize a ceremony with the fan club leaders to celebrate the decision.

"It's a sensational, wonderful decision. Flamengo's fans are a national treasure and deserve all these tributes. It has to be a memorable celebration," said Márcio Braga.

Recently, the city's intangible assets and cultural productions have been listed by the City Hall. Flamengo fans join the carnival groups Cordão do Bola Preta, Banda de Ipanema, and Cacique de Ramos, Bossa Nova, Pixinguinha's discography and musical production, and even the figure of the lambe-lambe photographer as listed intangible assets. Although such listing is more symbolic than practical, Cesar Maia explained that the listed assets now receive "monitoring and support from the government," promoting them as examples of Rio's cultural production.

Through its press office, the Extraordinary Secretariat for Cultural Heritage explained that Flamengo now has the city's recognition that its fans are a representative element of the city. According to the Secretariat, the club can now use the city's endorsement of the fans in fundraising efforts. Cesar Maia said he sees no reason for any adverse reactions from fans of other clubs.

"They should all reach this point and would normally be listed. Fan clubs in defeats, that's very difficult," he said, before commenting on the possibility of listing other fan clubs. "Identifying these elements or other distinctive features, of course, is possible. And the listing is only definitive if those characteristics remain."

But there have already been contrary reactions.

"I'm a Flamengo fan, and this was never necessary. It's a political fact in an election year," said Santos coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo.

- Anyone who lived at the club knows that the relationship with the fans was always spontaneous, there was never any need for that - said former player Júnior.

Decree makes Flamengo fans a Cultural Asset of the City

Photo caption: END OF THE year celebration: Márcio Braga lifts the trophy offered by the CBF to Flamengo fans

Decisive in Flamengo's reaction, honored by the CBF, highlighted on the FIFA website, Flamengo's fans will receive another tribute today: in the Official Gazette, the City Hall will publish a decree registering the red-black fans as a Cultural Asset of the City.

The decision was made last Tuesday during a meeting between Rio de Janeiro Mayor Cesar Maia and his staff. In an email, the mayor justified the decision by citing recent demonstrations by Flamengo fans, who averaged 39.221 paying spectators per game in the Brazilian Championship.

"It demonstrated the character of popular culture in the process of mobilization, in addition to reinforcing Rio's centrality. The mass choreography, the mass singing. For everyone, this characterizes popular culture and should be marked as such," said Cesar Maia, an avowed Botafogo fan.

Excited by the news, Flamengo president Márcio Braga said he will contact the mayor to organize a ceremony with the fan club leaders to celebrate the decision.

"It's a sensational, wonderful decision. Flamengo's fans are a national treasure and deserve all these tributes. It has to be a memorable celebration," said Márcio Braga.

Recently, the city's intangible assets and cultural productions have been listed by the City Hall. Flamengo fans join the carnival groups Cordão do Bola Preta, Banda de Ipanema, and Cacique de Ramos, Bossa Nova, Pixinguinha's discography and musical production, and even the figure of the lambe-lambe photographer as listed intangible assets. Although such listing is more symbolic than practical, Cesar Maia explained that the listed assets now receive "monitoring and support from the government," promoting them as examples of Rio's cultural production.

Through its press office, the Extraordinary Secretariat for Cultural Heritage explained that Flamengo now has the city's recognition that its fans are a representative element of the city. According to the Secretariat, the club can now use the city's endorsement of the fans in fundraising efforts. Cesar Maia said he sees no reason for any adverse reactions from fans of other clubs.

"They should all reach this point and would normally be listed. Fan clubs in defeats, that's very difficult," he said, before commenting on the possibility of listing other fan clubs. "Identifying these elements or other distinctive features, of course, is possible. And the listing is only definitive if those characteristics remain."

But there have already been contrary reactions.

"I'm a Flamengo fan, and this was never necessary. It's a political fact in an election year," said Santos coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo.

- Anyone who lived at the club knows that the relationship with the fans was always spontaneous, there was never any need for that - said former player Júnior.