Download - Sports In Brazil

theme, and has prevailed as such in the recent workshop on “Ecology &
Environment” which was held during the international congress on “Sport Images
in the World”, a celebration of the 75 th anniversary of the Sport University of
Cologne (Germany) in November, 1995.
The guidelines for the work accomplished during that opportunity for scientific
interchange were furnished by the statement quoted below:
“The increased public awareness of the problems concerning
ecological preservation has inevitably also turned to sport. Along
with the growing number of persons active in sport and the
development of new “sport disciplines”, the danger of ecological
damage through sport rises. Sport needs the natural environment,
but it also “consumes” it. The workshop should contribute to the
search for solutions to those problems, by describing scientific
investigations dealing with the development of criteria regarding
the conditions under which the “environmental consumption” by
sport is legitimate and the aspects in which it should be criticized.”
(GERMAN SPORT UNIVERSITY COLOGNE - “International Congress
- Images of Sport in the World”, Final Program, p. 39, 1995)
Based on these considerations, and having inserted the book within the
framework of local and global relationships encompassing the environment as
well as sport, we feel free to adopt a second approach so as to shed light on
certain points regarding the country, the institutions and the individuals who
have produced this collection of texts.
Starting with Portugal, it should be pointed out that as early as in the 14 th
century, this country was already aware of the hazardous effects of deforestation
as a result economic exploitation and population growth. That was the reason
for King Denis’ having promoted in those days what would now be called
“sustainable development”, replenishing the Leiria region by means of the intensive
planting of pine trees for the controlled use of the newborn shipping industry
(MOTTOSO, J. e SOUZA, A., “História de Portugal”, Editorial Estampa, Lisboa,
1993, pp. 322-327).
Later, in the 18 th century, environmental control measures were included in the
royal Portuguese decrees, when King John the Second commanded that hunters
and coal merchants in the Palmela region be repressed and held responsible for
their actions. This governmental intervention was brought about by the
“councilmen and good men” who protested against the burning and destruction
of the vegetation and the consequent decline of the wax and honey industry
(BUARQUE DE HOLLANDA, S., “Caminhos e Fronteiras”, Editora Companhia das
Letras, São Paulo, 1994, pp.235-236).
Meio ambiente, esporte, Lazer e turismo 155