‘Kite fighting’ so dangerous and deadly, Brazil considers national ban

Karah Rucker

YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE HEARD OF IT HERE IN THE U-S – BUT IN BRAZIL, KITE FIGHTING HAS BECOME SO DANGEROUS… THE GOVERNMENT IS CONSIDERING A NATIONWIDE BAN. 

YES, I SAID *KITE* FIGHTING – THINK THE COLORFUL, PAPER OR PLASTIC TOYS YOU SEE SOARING THROUGH THE SKY ON A BREEZY DAY… ONLY DEADLIER.

PLAYERS USE SHARP-EDGED KITE LINES – KNOWN AS “CEROL”(SAIR-uhl) IN PORTUGUESE – TO SLASH THEIR OPPONENTS’ LINES AND RIP THEIR KITES FROM THE SKY.

THE POPULAR PASTIME IS RECOGNIZED AS HAVING CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL HERITAGE IN RIO DE JANEIRO… AND IT’S BEEN KNOWN TO CAUSE HORRIFIC INJURIES AND EVEN DEATHS.

THE LINES ARE ALREADY OUTLAWED IN SOME OF THE MORE POPULOUS AREAS OF BRAZIL – INCLUDING RIO – BUT THAT DOESN’T STOP PEOPLE FROM USING THEM ANYWAY. 

WHILE KITE-FIGHTING COMPETITIONS ARE HELD SAFELY IN DESIGNATED AREAS IN COUNTRIES LIKE FRANCE AND CHILE… IN BRAZIL – IT’S WIDESPREAD AND UNREGULATED… AND HAS BEEN PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS ON HIGHWAYS, WHERE MOTORISTS CAN’T ALWAYS SEE THEM STRETCHED ACROSS THE LANES. 

THAT EXACT SCENARIO HAS CAUSED SO MANY ACCIDENTS OVER THE YEARS – THAT MOTORCYCLISTS ATTACH THIN, ANTENNA-LIKE POSTS WITH RAZORS ON THEM TO THEIR BIKES TO CUT THROUGH WAYWARD KITE LINES. 

IN FACT – THE COMPANY THAT OVERSEES ONE OF RIO’S BUSIEST HIGHWAYS REGULARLY HANDS THE DEVICES OUT TO MOTORCYCLISTS. 

STILL THOUGH, THE NATION EVERY YEAR SEES MULTIPLE CASES OF BRAZILIAN MOTORCYCLISTS WITH SEVERED LIMBS OR SLIT THROATS – AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS CONSIDERING A BAN ON THESE “CEROL” (SAIR-uhl) LINES ALTOGETHER.

A LAW TO DO JUST THAT HAS ALREADY PASSED IN BRAZILIAN CONGRESS – NOW IT’S UP FOR A SENATE VOTE. 

BRAZIL’S GOVERNMENT DOESN’T HAVE ANY OFFICIAL DATA ON THE NUMBER OF INJURIES AND DEATHS CAUSED BY THE RAZOR-SHARP LINES NATIONWIDE… NATIONWIDE CAUSED BY CUTTING LINES. HOWEVER, ONE NONPROFIT THAT RUNS A HOTLINE FOR CRIME VICTIMS SAYS SINCE 20-19 – THERE HAVE BEEN MORE THAN 28-HUNDRED REPORTS OF ILLEGAL USE OF THE LINES IN RIO ALONE. 

THE LINES ARE *NOT* COMPLETELY BANNED THERE – KITE FIGHTS CAN BE LEGALLY HELD IN CERTAIN DESIGNATED AREAS THAT ARE FAR FROM ROADS AND HIGHWAYS OR PEOPLE’S HOMES. 

HOWEVER, STATE LAWS OVER THESE CUTTING LINES ARE DIFFERENT ALL ACROSS BRAZIL – WITH SOME AREAS BANNING THEM COMPLETELY.

IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN IF THAT WILL BECOME THE NATIONWIDE STANDARD.