RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Former soccer player Ronaldinho Gaucho was appointed as an ambassador of Brazilian tourism by the federal government, even though both his Brazilian and Spanish passports have been confiscated by the courts and he is not allowed to renew them.
The choice was announced on Thursday, September 5th, by EMBRATUR. According to the agency, Ronaldinho is a volunteer and will help in campaigns to promote tourism.
On EMBRATUR’s official website, the former player said that his mission is “to restore our image internationally”. He, however, is unable to travel to countries that require a passport.
Ronaldinho Gaúcho and his brother, Roberto de Assis, were convicted in 2015 in a lawsuit for environmental damage in the courts of Rio Grande do Sul and are forbidden from leaving the country or renewing the documents until they repair the damage caused.
The case concerns the illegal construction of a pier, with a fishing platform and dock, on the edge of Guaíba, in Porto Alegre, in an area of permanent preservation and without environmental licensing.
The seizure of Ronaldinho and Assis’ passports was ordered in November last year as a means of forcing the family to pay compensation in excess of R$8.5 million. The amount, updated last year, is now approximately R$9.5 million.
The former player’s counsel appealed to the Federal Supreme Court (STF), which upheld the decision on September 2nd. Ronaldinho’s lawyer Sergio Queiroz confirmed to G1 news sie that the former player’s passport was handed over to the courts.
There are more Ambassadors
In addition to Ronaldinho Gaúcho, other Brazilian tourism ambassadors have been appointed: singer Amado Batista; Brazilian country music duo Bruno & Marrone; biologist Richard Rasmussen; and jiu-jitsu fighter Renzo Gracie.
According to EMBRATUR, this is a “demonstration of patriotism and responsibility for the future of Brazil, without any financial interest, different from what happened in previous governments”.
In a note sent to G1, Embratur said that the choices follow a popularity criteria and those chosen will work voluntarily. They are expected to promote Brazil in their social networks.
EMBRATUR expects that, by the end of the Bolsonaro government, the number of international tourists in the country will have doubled from the current figure of 6 million annually.
The G1 sought the agency to comment on the case of Ronaldinho Gaucho, but did not get feedback until the publication of this text.