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The programme in Brazil had two dedicated development officers and one major landmark was the installation of rugby posts on Copacabana Beach, which piqued interest in the soccer-mad city. In all 45 workshops were held, with 1,500 coaches and teachers trained and 450 schools and clubs signing up to be part of the programme, which delivered 400 clinics to over 23,000 youngsters.Twenty-five festivals were also organised in collaboration with the local Rio government, the Rio prefecture, Brazil’s National Olympic Committee, the Confederação Brasileira de Rugby and Sudamérica Rugby. Rugby’s Olympic test event featured one of these and as a result BEYOND RIO85unions200+events60,000+ participantsof the co-operative approach the sport was also played across 10 Olympic ‘villages’ as part of Rio 2016’s own legacy programme, reaching 175,000 players, coaches and teachers, and training 60 young referees.The same excitement travelled the globe. World Rugby’s member unions were actively encouraged to organise their own events in the build-up to and during Rio 2016 to promote the game and attract new players and fans. Supported by the six regional associations, 85 unions took up that challenge and between them organised more than 200 events, attracting over 60,000 participants.RIO FAN-ZONE Once rugby sevens’ Olympic debut had arrived there was a 350-square metre rugby fan-zone on the way into the Deodoro Stadium, giving fans a relaxed space to go and enjoy the games and also build rugby awareness.Manned by 15 staff, the dedicated space attracted well over 1,000 fans per day and, whether young or old, all were encouraged to engage in the sport. Tag rugby clinics and mini games were laid on for children and an inflatable pitch and posts allowed adults to play touch rugby and enjoy kicking and throwing contests. For the more contact-minded, tackle bags and mats were used to give workshops. Among those invited to attend were 1,750 local school children with their teachers as part of the Olympic #FutureFans project, and the youngsters all left with various gifts, from balls, caps and bags to pins, keyrings, pens and polo shirts.And every effort was made to ensure that all of this was beamed around the world – with rugby boards, frames and official match balls on hand, as well as Olympic mascots, to ensure the fan-zone was alive on social media. IMPACT BEYOND | PARTICIPATE