Inaugural Street Child Games open in Rio

Former street children from around the world stepped into the spotlight onMonday as the first-ever Street Child Games opened in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Teams from nine countries from all over the world arrived in Rio just months beforeprofessional athletes begin arriving in the host-city for the Olympic and ParalympicGames.

Organised by the UK charity Street Child United (SCU), the Street Child Games, inassociation with Save the Children, will include an international athletics competitionwith six Olympic-themed sports and a unique UN-style congress.

Vianney, representing Team Burundi, said: "I will be representing all streetchildren, starting from home and then to the rest of the world, so that they can havean identity, a name and rights that can protect them."

The Games are being hosted by the Babilônia and Chapéu Mangueira community inLeme. The athletics will take place at Forte São João Urca where the young peoplewill compete in the 100m sprint, 100m hurdles, 400m, long jump, shot put and 4x100m relay.

Michael Johnson, Multi-Olympic Gold Medallist and Founder of Michael JohnsonPositive Track announced his support: "The Street Child Games symbolise the powerof sport in guaranteeing the rights of some of the most marginalised children in theworld. These young people will compete on the field and unite off the field with the

clear message from each: I AM SOMEBODY"

John Wroe, Chief Executive of SCU, said: "It’s really exciting, now all the teamsare here it’s real.

"I’m incredibly proud of all the project leaders and all the young people, who are realheroes, and it’s quite astounding that we’re having another reunion of former streetchildren from all over the world in Rio.

"I’m relieved that all the visas have come through, the last ones came from Karachion Wednesday morning. When we heard that I was floating on air.

"To know that every young person we’ve invited is able to come is a huge weight offour shoulders.

As teams arrived at the favela community, volunteers working for SCU gave eachteam an exuberant and warm welcome, waving flags and lining the way up the hill totheir accommodation.

Teams have been training hard for the Games, and have faced challenges to securevisas, and in some cases, birth certificates and passports.

John Wroe said: "It’s phenomenal that we’re based here in Babilonia. It’s a realstrong statement about social inclusion and I’m humbled that an organisation like theCopacabana Palace Hotel will allow us to invite people in each day.

"It’s been a long planning process and it’s finally come to fruition."

Held at the world-famous Copacabana Palace Hotel, the congress will be anopportunity for teams to speak out and campaign for street children’s rights.

The UN estimates there are 150 million street-connected children worldwide, who areeither living on, or at risk of living on, the streets.

Research has also shown that in the run-up to mega sporting events, children livingon the streets are especially vulnerable and at risk.

At the end of the congress, the teams will present a resolution focusing on the rightsof vulnerable children to governments and the United Nations, as well as an openletter to the International Olympic Committee calling for human rights to be placed atthe core of global sports events.

Dinara, representing Team Brazil, reflected on the harsh reality of life on the streetsfor children in Rio, saying "Some of my friends can’t be here because they are dead."

The teams taking part in the Street Child Games are: Pakistan, the Philippines,Argentina, Great Britain, Egypt, Brazil, Burundi, India and Mozambique.

Leslie Rowe, project leader for Team GB, said: ¨The girls are really excited.

Obviously, it´s now two years on from the Street Child World Cup, which they tookpart in.

Now they are older, they have grasped the enormity of the organisation they havebecome part of and are really trying to make a difference to street children aroundthe world.

"In the last year or so they have really stepped up their fundraising and really broughtIslington Council on board.

"They have been rekindling friendships. We´re really excited to see how people havemoved on and to see how they can participate in the congress sessions."

GET INVOLVED - FOLLOW, SHARE & SUPPORT THE 2016 STREET CHILD GAMES MARCH 14 - 20 HERE.

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