Last Wednesday (14), athletes from different modalities of Flamengo's Olympic Sports visited the Mangueira court for an afternoon of joy and inspiration with the children from the Mangueira do Amanhã children's samba school. During the visit, which also included the presence of the mascot Binho, the athletes distributed Christmas gifts and interacted with the children of the community, answering curious questions about sports, competitions, high performance and the importance of being in school. More than gifts, the athletes distributed a lot of inspiration to the children of Mangueira.

"It was so much fun being here with the kids this afternoon, playing, talking about our sports, training... It was really cool to see the kids happy, receiving gifts," said Monique Silva, Pan American judo champion. "It's great to know we can help in some way, showing them that sport can lead them to many places, bring opportunities, and be an inspiration to them. I was so happy to be here with them today," added Henrique Bahiense, South American judo champion.

During the event, the children of Mangueira do Amanhã put on a rousing performance, featuring drummers, dancers, a master of ceremonies, and a flag bearer from the school, which is part of Mangueira's Social Program. Mangueira do Amanhã is made up of children and adolescents between the ages of 5 and 17 and is responsible for uncovering many Carnival talents. 

Promoted by Flamengo's Social Responsibility Department, the initiative sought to leverage the power of sport to contribute to building stronger, more resilient communities, reinforcing the notion that sport is a powerful tool for inspiring, motivating, and connecting people. Athletes Maria Eduarda Martins, Yandra Rodrigues, Ana Carolina Neves, Jeniffer Kathlen, Larissa Marina, and Jully Portella from water polo; Ana Clara Almeida, Maria Luisa Bracarense, and Bernardo Barreto from artistic swimming; and Alisson Barros, Pietro Santana, Monique Silva, Vitor Barbosa, and Henrique Bahiense from judo.

The event was supported by the company Yorgus, sponsor of Flamengo, and also by the companies Daal Alimentos, Ipanema Queijos and Pão de Queijo Barão de Minas, which completed the children's party.