Prince William goes barefoot as he tries his hand at beach volleyball | Royal | News
The Prince of Wales was praised for his “energy” after trying volleyball in his final match on the first day of his visit to Brazil. Prince William hit the world-famous Copacabana Beach on Monday afternoon and, after taking off his shoes and socks, joined Brazilian Olympian Carolina Solberg and other locals in a game of beach volleyball.
He told his opposition: “Hello guys, be nice.” They played for almost 10 minutes, the prince jumping into the air and doing several somersaults on the sand trying to save the ball.
Showing off his sporting prowess, William switched positions as scores of well-wishers cheered him on and told his teammates that his height had helped him.
When someone tried to distract him from the game, he joked: “We’ll be here all night, guys, talk among yourselves.”
Ms. Solberg praised William’s skills, saying he had “a lot of energy.”
He said: “He’s tall. He can hit. I think he can be really good if he practices more. I think he was having fun and it was great playing with him. It was such a pleasure.”
After his energetic play, the prince was presented with a hat and spent several minutes posing for photos and greeting the cheerleaders lined up along the beach.
William arrived on the beach to loud cheers when he was introduced to the emergency responders responsible for keeping people safe, as the sea is notorious for its powerful waves, steep drop-offs and treacherous currents.
They are also responsible for environmental protection work carried out on the beach.
Rio de Janeiro’s beaches are among the most visited in the world, and drowning prevention and safety is a major focus for the city.
The prince spent time with representatives of the Rio de Janeiro State Military Fire Brigade, which is responsible for lifeguard and emergency services, and watched the marine rescue lifeboat activation.
After walking on the beach, William was shown a variety of life-saving equipment, from oxygen tanks to buoys and boats.
William took a keen interest in the jet ski on the beach and asked, “How fast is it going?” he asked.
Standing atop the lifeboat tower, William blew a whistle to indicate an emergency at sea in a simulated exercise.
He then watched as lifeguards rushed into the water to help three swimmers who were in distress.
The last casualty was rescued by a helicopter; Two emergency responders jumped into the water and carried the person to safety at White Sands before a net was dropped from the helicopter.
He was then introduced to the youth participating in Project Botinho, an annual free summer program organized by the fire department in partnership with local social services.
The initiative offers educational and recreational activities to approximately 5,000 children and youth aged 7-17 at various beaches across the state. He teaches youth about ocean safety, drowning prevention, first aid and environmental protection.
William later told emergency responders: “Thank you, I really appreciate it. You’ve got a lot of work to do.”
