RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL, August 12, 2016 (RNS): The International Olympic Committee had chosen only five “official” religions for the interfaith center. According to the Rio 2016 Olympic organizing committee, the choice of Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism and Hinduism was based on IOC research that showed most athletes follow those faiths. But the IOC found itself facing heavy criticism for failing to consider the possibility that some Brazilian competitors could be Candomble and Umbanda adherents and in need of pastoral support as well.
Mother Fatima Damas and other Brazilian-African religious leaders lobbied the government to overturn the decision. The exclusion was eventually dropped. Both Candomble and Umbanda are a fusion of different beliefs and multiple deities. The faiths are rooted in African spiritual traditions with elements blended from Roman Catholicism. Brazil has more than 58,800 followers of African religions, and a significant number are concentrated in the state of Rio de Janeiro.
The Rev. Leandro Lenin, the coordinator of the interfaith center, recently visited all 31 buildings in the Olympic village and posted information on notice boards about the center and the availability of various religious leaders to give counsel and comfort to the 17,000 athletes, coaches and other support staff. “Whatever faith they follow, athletes competing in the Rio Olympic and Paralympic Games will always find a place to worship in the village,” he said. So far, no one has taken up the offer to see a Candomble or Umbanda priest, Lenin said.
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