PUBLIC POLICIES FOR SPORT AND LEISURE IN BRAZIL (1937–2003)

Abstract

This study analyzes the trajectory of public policies for sport and leisure in Brazil between 1937 and 2003, highlighting their relationship with State political projects and the process of sports institutionalization in the country. Sport, as a relevant social phenomenon, has historically been used  as an instrument of social control, construction of national identity, and government propaganda, especially during the Estado Novo period and the military regime. Over the decades, sports legislation consolidated the presence of the State in the organization and regulation of sports practices, evidencing a centralized model strongly influenced by political and economic interests. This research uses qualitative methods, drawing on historical reviews and bibliographic analysis to identify both continuities and changes in Brazil's sports policies.  It is noteworthy that, despite legal advances and the recognition of sport as a social right in the 1988 Federal Constitution, the predominance of high-performance sport, especially football, persisted to the detriment of other modalities and social dimensions of sport. It is concluded that challenges remain related to the democratization of access, decentralization of public policies, and the appreciation of sports diversity in Brazil.