about us
Seeking new life experiences and high quality sports? Welcome to Rio Sports Tour.
Imagine how cool to practice your favorite sport during part of the day and visit lovely sights acknowledged worldwide…and to live like a Carioca!.
Cariocas are Rio de Janeiro residents like all our crew members who will make you feel at home by the nice and easy way they care of campers and by their dedication to give you the most for your money along your stay.
Choose your best choice of sports camps that blend highly qualified coaches with unique tourism programs and with true Carioca experiences.
Our camps include Olympic sports (Beach Volley, Judo, Wrestling and Soccer) and Non-Olympic sports (Surf and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu). Our special touch is to give you the opportunity of practicing your favorite sport throughout the state of Rio de Janeiro (Búzios Peninsula, Cabo Frio, Niterói, and Rio de Janeiro city) to experience the best of Brazilian nature.
Rio Sports Tour was created in December of 2003 under the framework of a unique concept: the blending of touristic activities in Rio de Janeiro with one-to-one training with sports stars. We organize training camps in different sports, we provide hands-on management support to special events, and most importantly, under Cariocas’ unique attitude.
Since then, we produced dozens of training camps, which have helped develop a few non-profit sports in Brazil, such as wrestling, that has grown a lot since Rio Sports Tour conducts the foreign exchange program of the Brazilian Wrestling Federation.
TEAM
Visiting Brazil is not like a common trip where you eat different things, hear another language, and see a new culture before returning home. In Rio you will feel like if you were at home. Our team fluent in different languages and is ready and willing to help you create enjoyable moments that will last forever in your memory. Enjoy the trip and have a lifetime experience!
INSTRUCTION TEAM
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Nearly our entire management team has been enrolled with this sport for the past decades so we have all the networks to make your BJJ camp an unforgettable experience.
If you want to master your skills in BJJ or just get a hint of it from the real world champions and high qualified masters, this is the place you’ve been looking for. Contact us for Rio Sports Tour’s coaches list availability.
Judo
Tradition and effort are part of Judo evolution in Brazil. Following the Oriental philosophies, Brazilian judokas conquered many Olympic, World and Continental titles and Rio de Janeiro is one of the strongest states in Brazil for its practice. One will practice in Brazil’s top clubs in town and share the knowledge with high class judokas and coaches in Rio de Janeiro area.
If you are looking for this particular knowledge, we can offer one of the greatest and respected Sensei’s in Japan and America Sensei George Mehdi .
Wrestling
A sport with less tradition than Judo or BJJ, wrestling in Brazil has achieved several international titles and respect since 2002. Reaffirming the versatility of Brazilians in such combat sports, wrestling results in world class championships are tangible: 2003 Pan Am Games – silver medal (FS 96kg), 2 participations in Olympic Games (2004 and 2008), 2006 World Junior – silver medal (FW 72kg), and 30 other different titles in Continental events. Rio Sports Tour is the official company for the international cultural exchange program at the Brazilian Wrestling Federation.
Beach Volley
After winning almost every title in this sport the Brazilian Volley Ball Team is top qualified to teach and share their experiences with anyone. To make it happen, our resident coach and permanent consultant is Marcos Miranda with his high-qualified team to support Rio Sports Tour’s Volley/Beach Volley camp: Denis Gomes and Antônio Leão
Marcos Miranda played since 12 and coached for more than 20 years. Marco’s backgrounds include 4 Olympic Games as a supervisor, coach, assistant coach or physical conditioning and he is also an FIV coach Level I, II, III. Width all these credits, he achieved what almost anyone dreams of.
. Olympic Games: 1992 Olympic Champion (indoor volley), 2 times 5th place in indoor (1988 and 1996) and one time 5th at beach (2004).
. Worlds: champion at Beach Volley World Tour (2003 – Ana Paula/Sandra), Indoor Volley Grand Prix (1998), Indoor Volley World League (1993) and also at the World Cup (1992).
Marcos used to coach other great champions like Brazilians Carlão and Nalbert, and foreign national teams like Switzerland (bronze medal in 2004 O.G), Germany, Sweden, Austria, China and Russia.
Surf
Almost like a religion, for many generations in Rio de Janeiro our surf camp is technically conducted by surf professionals from Wet Works and supported by Rio Surf & Stay. Wet Works was founded by high qualified shapers and surfers who won several awards and achieved world-class exposure in the 1980s. Professionals, coaches and state of the art materials are just waiting for you.
TOURISM TEAM
HELOISA (FRA, ING) – She has been traveling since 12 years old trough the world for study/work. As a tourist guide, she has already guided many groups all over Brazil for the past years including all Rio Sports Tour groups.
BEATRIZ (FRA, ING, ESP) – Grew up in Copacabana beach, lived for many years in USA with her family and traveled all over the world, Beatriz is highly skilled in foreign languages, cultures and ready to guide different profiles of groups and ages.
MANAGEMENT TEAM
FRANCIS – Founder, CEO/President, & Camp Leader
A native from Columbus, Ohio, he moved to Brazil with his parents (both Cariocas) as a baby and has lived in Rio de Janeiro ever since. Passionate about sports and an experienced sportsman, Francis was introduced to the world of sports when he was 1 ½ old and began Swimming. After that he went through Gymnastics, Athletics, Tennis, Rowing, Basketball, Soccer, Volleyball, Karate, Judo, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Wrestling, Surf and Yoga.
Since 2001 he is helping develop the wrestling sport and the grappling style (under FILA rules) in Brazil. At the National Federation he has organized many different kinds of events (State and Nationals Championships, South American and Pan American Games), marketing projects and also has represented and lead the Brazilian Team in many international wrestling events all over the world. In 2008, Francis was invited to become a Member of the FILA World Grappling Committee.
SALES TEAM
JAMES – in Springfield and St. Louis (Missouri, USA)
contacts: jwade82nd@yahoo.com
HILLARY – in Little Rock (Arkansas, USA)
contacts: phoenixxflames@sbcglobal.net
DAN – in London, Toronto area (CANADA)
contacts: dan@londonbjj.com
GILSON – in Lausanne area (SWITZERLAND)
contacts: gifight@hotmail.com
