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Beach Soccer at 2016 Olympics?
January 8, 2013, 4:17 pm

A member of the Brazil beach soccer team in action. [Getty Images]

A member of the Brazil beach soccer team in action. [Getty Images]

Brazilian football legend Pele is actively lobbying for beach soccer to be included in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, a Russian official told R-Sport on Saturday.

Olympic officials are to decide next September which sports will feature at the Games.

“We have serious chances, because Pele himself is lobbying the interests of beach soccer in Brazil,” said Sergei Anokhin, the head of the Russian beach soccer federation.

“Brazil has a realistic chance of winning gold in very few sports, but here (in beach soccer) it can,” Anokhin said. “A lot depends on him.”

FIFA president Sepp Blatter was reported to have discussed the issue with Rio 2016 chief organizer Carlos Nuzman.

Brazil are the most successful beach soccer nation with 13 world titles.

However, Russia are the current world champions after beating Brazil in the 2011 final in Italy.

Source: Agencies