In Brazil’s southernmost state of Rio Grande do Sul, millions of people rally around the same emotion: hope. And it is no different when it comes to football, the sport Brazilians love the most.
As of this week, more than 160 people have been killed by devastating floods that have affected the entire state, with some towns completely disappearing under the muddy waters.
In Porto Alegre, the state capital, not even the main airport is functioning, and forecasts say it will remain closed for months still.
In addition to lives, homes and public infrastructure, football has also been affected, with the capital’s major clubs, Grêmio and Internacional, having no choice but to postpone their matches, mentally and logistically unable to focus on playing football. The floods also put their respective stadiums at risk.
Though the two clubs are archrivals, disputing the famous Gre-Nal derby, the tragedy in Rio Grande do Sul has brought the two foes together.
This month, representatives of the two capital city teams held a historic joint press conference to announce “Playing Together for the Reconstruction of the State,” an unprecedented alliance to help flood victims.
The initiative even has a purple icon, created by mixing Grêmio’s blue and Internacional’s red.
Together, they will combine merchandising, sponsorship, social media, and fundraising efforts to help those most affected by the disaster. On the day the plan was launched, around BRL 28 million had already been raised.
Let’s hope this wave of sports solidarity and compassion continues for years to come.
If you want to help the victims of the floods from within Brazil, check out this link. For those living abroad, here’s a list of options.
Also, check out the creation of this cartoon on The Brazilian Report’s TikTok account (@brazilianreport).
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