Harry hits the beach: action man prince plays volleyball in Brazil

Prince Harry’s first foreign tour saw him today playing beach volleyball in Rio de Janeiro, having a game of beach rugby and running a mile for charity - wearing a mask of his brother. Harry was at the Great Sports Day on the city’s stunning Flamengo Beach organised by the British Government to showcase the best this country has to offer.Of his three activities, it was his game of beach volleyball on Rio Janeiro’s Flamengo Beach that - for obvious reasons - garnered most attention. The prince put on a shirt and baseball cap in the Brazilian colours with his name and the number 11 on the back. Once or twice he fell to his knees in the sand as he enthusiastically dived to get the shot. Hit: wearing a shirt and baseball cap in the Brazilian colours and his name, Prince Harry gives it his all in a game against some of Brazil’s top beach volleyball playersFlanked by stunning scenery and cheering crowds, the 27-year-old was coached by Adriana Behar, winner of two Olympic silver medals and one of the world’s most outstanding beach volleyball players of her generation.They were joined by three other top Brazilian volleyball players Jackie Silva, Para and Carlao. The three-a-side match gave him the chance to show off his ball skills.The women players are known for their skimpy outfits, but they were modestly dressed in shorts and vest tops for the game.The prince, who is in South America at the request of the Government, was taking part in a British-themed sports day - part of a Great campaign event to celebrate the passion Brazil and the UK share for sports, an organiser said.Great aims to promote Britain in key foreign cities on the back of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and London 2012 to encourage those overseas to visit, study or do business in the UK. Earlier the remarkably perky prince took part in a game of touch rugby with a group of local children on the beach. Rugby will be featured for the first time in the 2016 Olympics, which will take place in Rio de Janeiro. The prince was desperate to win, and as in his “race” againstsain Bolt in Jamaica, where he used a little subterfuge to claim victory, he grabbed the tops of the little boys as they tried to run past him. At one point he picked up two boys and held them under his arms to allow a team mate to score. The prince appeared to enjoy the action, and was seen knocking over two children - one from each side - in his bid to stop a try.

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Harry hits the beach: action man prince plays volleyball in Brazil