Meet Francisco, the boy who went up the ramp with Lula; “I represented black children”

Starting the year in a different and special way, Francisco Carlos do Nascimento e Silva was part of the group of representatives of the Brazilian people in the delivery of the presidential sash to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT).

Francisco, 10 years old, is the son of a social worker and a lawyer, lives in Itaquera, in the east zone of São Paulo and is a Corinthians fan, as is the president. The boy has been a swimmer for the club’s junior team for three years. He started his sporting career at Academia Dandy in the Patriarca region before joining Corinthians.

In an interview with CNN Francisco said he knew he was part of history.

“I knew I was representing all children, black children, sports, especially swimming, Corinthians, Corinthians swimming. For me it was very special. I represented black children who have dreams to fulfill and who have big goals”, said the boy.

Francisco also said what he expects from the current management of the Ministry of Sport.

“I hope they value sports, especially swimming, which doesn’t get much attention.”

The boy’s father, lawyer Francisco, who gave his son his name, spoke about the importance of swimming in the boy’s life and also of the boy’s friends, united by the same sport.

“We notice through Francisco and his friends, for example in swimming, their integration and coexistence. Growth, always talking about positive things, about discipline, training. This helps to raise the children’s level of awareness, a collective participation in a certain sport”, said the proud father.

In 2022, the boy Francisco finished the 2nd stage of the Circuito Mirim Paulista with four medals, he took first place in the Paulista Aquatic Federation championship (1st region) in the 50-meter backstroke and so far has 16 medals.

He and Lula met in December, at the Catadores Christmas, an event organized by the National Association of Catadores, in São Paulo. The president received a letter written by the boy.

When he found out that he would participate in the event, Francisco watched the movie “Lula, O Filho do Brasil” and was inspired by the PT candidate for who knows, one day he will also be president of Brazil.

Francisco wrote in the letter that the children believe in the president and said that he traveled to Curitiba for the famous “Good morning, President Lula”, that he already saw him play ball in the MST (Movement of Landless Rural Workers) a few years ago and that he would be present in Brasília, on the inauguration day.

After receiving the letter, the petista called the boy to the stage and said he would like to meet him again and hug him with the presidential sash.

From that day forward, Francisco and his family kept in contact with Lula’s advisors so that the boy could go up the ramp of the Planalto Palace alongside Lula and participate in the delivery of the banner along with other representatives.

Source: CNN Brasil

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