How does one invent a new sport in the 21st century? And how to get that sport into the Olympics? These were among the questions posed to Viktor Huszar, the founder of Teqball, during a panel discussion at Web Summit Rio 2023.
Speaking to The Brazilian Report‘s Euan Marshall and Teqball world champion Natália Guitler, Mr. Huszar explained that Teqball is the world’s fastest growing sport, thanks in no small part to its widespread adoption by professional footballers as a leisure activity or as a training drill.
“You can go to [Argentinian national team footballer Lionel] Messi’s Instagram page, he’s got a pinned story of him with his family playing Teqball. We have a sport that’s endorsed by the most influential people of the world for free,” said Mr. Huszar. “That’s my advice to everyone here: try to get that endorsement. If they look at it as a product, it’s not going to work. If it’s something they genuinely enjoy, it works.”
Natália Guitler, a former tennis pro and now a professional Teqball and footvolley player, spoke of her aspirations of representing Brazil at the Olympics in a potential future Teqball event.
“[Seeing Teqball in the Olympics] is a huge dream of mine — and I hope it will happen soon, so I will be able to take part. But anything I can do to help this sport grow, I’m there.”
Founded in 2009, Web Summit was held in Dublin until 2016, when it moved to Lisbon. The event helped turn the Portuguese capital into a European tech hub and “wants to do the same for Rio de Janeiro,” Artur Pereira, Web Summit’s country manager in Brazil, told our Deputy Editor Fabiane Ziolla Menezes.
The Brazilian Report moderated another four panels at Web Summit Rio:
- How AI is going to give scale to your organization. With Bruno Guicardi, co-founder at CI&T, Alex Winetzki, founder & CEO at Woopi, and The Brazilian Report’s Deputy Editor Fabiane Ziolla Menezes. Watch here.
- AI: Future or fear? With Sarah Al-Hussaini, co-founder and COO at Ultimate, Aline Oliveira, co-founder of Traive, and Gustavo Ribeiro, editor-in-chief of The Brazilian Report.
- How UFC fought its way to the top. Fred Santarpia, president of Endeavor Streaming, MMA fighter Amanda Ribas, Brazil UFC senior VP Eduardo Galetti, and The Brazilian Report’s Deputy Editor Euan Marshall.
- Can LatAm challenge Silicon Valley? Rodrigo Maroja, co-founder & COO of Daki, Ludmila Pontremolez, co-founder and CTO of Zippi, Brian Requarth, co-founder of Latitud, and Gustavo Ribeiro, founder and editor-in-chief of The Brazilian Report.
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