Brazilian Ministry of Sport

Founded: 1995-01-01 in Brasília, Federal District, Brazil
Headquarters: Esplanada dos Ministérios, Bloco A, Brasília, Federal District, Brazil

The Brazilian Ministry of Sport (Ministério do Esporte) is the federal cabinet-level agency responsible for shaping and executing national sports policy in Brazil. Established in 1995 as a special ministry under President Fernando Henrique Cardoso, it was briefly merged with tourism from 1998 to 2003 and was abolished under President Jair Bolsonaro in 2019, with its functions absorbed by the Ministry of Citizenship. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva reinstated the ministry in January 2023, appointing former Olympic volleyball player Ana Moser as minister; she was succeeded by André Fufuca in September 2023. Headquartered in Brasília's Esplanada dos Ministérios, the ministry oversees programs from grassroots sports infrastructure to high-performance athlete support through the Bolsa Atleta scholarship and the National Institute of Sport Development. It plays a central role in sports-betting integrity, having signed cooperation agreements with Sportradar, SIGA Latin America, IBIA, and ABFS to combat match-fixing. The ministry also maintains the official list of sports authorized for fixed-odds betting in Brazil. Its approved budget for 2023 was R$937.3 million (approximately US$190 million).

Detailed Review

History & Structure

The Ministry of Sport was created on 1 January 1995 under President Fernando Henrique Cardoso as the "Special Ministry of Sports". Its first minister was the legendary footballer Pelé. In 1998, the portfolio expanded to include tourism, becoming the Ministry of Sports and Tourism; tourism was separated again in 2003. The ministry was abolished in January 2019 by President Jair Bolsonaro, who folded its duties into the Ministry of Citizenship. Following the 2022 election, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva reinstated the ministry with effect from 1 January 2023, appointing former Olympic volleyball player Ana Moser as minister. She was replaced in September 2023 by André Fufuca (Progressistas), the current minister.

The ministry’s internal structure includes an Executive‑Secretariat and several specialized secretariats: Amateur Sports, Education, Leisure and Social Inclusion; High‑Development Sports; Parasports; and Football and Defense of Fan Rights. It also oversees the National Institute of Sport Development (INDESP), which focuses on talent identification and sport science.

Key Initiatives & Partnerships

Sports Integrity: In 2025, the ministry signed multiple technical cooperation agreements to strengthen integrity in sports betting. In May 2025 it formalised a partnership with Sportradar to receive suspicious‑activity reports from the Universal Fraud Detection System (UFDS) and to conduct training for ministry staff. Also in 2025, it signed agreements with SIGA LATIN AMERICA, IBIA, and ABFS, creating a broad network to monitor and prevent match‑fixing.

Authorized Betting Sports List: The ministry periodically updates the list of sports on which fixed‑odds betting is permitted. Recent additions include Bandy, Cornhole, Australian Rules Football, Gaelic Football, and Hurling.

Infrastructure: Under the government’s "Sports Infrastructure Program", the ministry reported completing over 4,000 projects (gymnasiums, athletics tracks, soccer fields) as of early 2025.

High‑Performance Sport: The ministry supports Olympic and Paralympic athletes through funding and the Bolsa Atleta scholarship program.

Funding

The ministry’s approved budget for 2023 was R$937.3 million (≈US$190 million). No official headcount figure was found in public sources; as a federal ministry, it likely employs several hundred civil servants, but this cannot be confirmed with certainty.

Key Products

National Institute of Sport Development (INDESP)
A federal body focused on athlete development, sport science research, and talent identification.
List of Authorised Sports for Fixed‑Odds Betting
A regulatory framework defining which sports may be offered for betting in Brazil; maintained and updated by the ministry.
Sports Integrity Agreements
Technical cooperation partnerships with Sportradar, SIGA LATIN AMERICA, IBIA, and ABFS to detect and prevent match‑fixing.
Sports Infrastructure Program
A nationwide initiative to build and renovate public sports facilities such as gymnasiums, athletics tracks, and soccer fields.
Bolsa Atleta
A federal athletic scholarship program supporting Olympic and Paralympic athletes, managed under the ministry's sports policy umbrella.