Seven months after Brazil hosted the 2014 FIFA World Cup, a social initiative is bringing together partner organisations and the Brazilian Ministry of Sport to discuss the impact and assess the social and sporting legacy of the mega event across the 12 host cities.

The 'Cidades da Copa' (in English, Cities of the World Cup) initiative, developed by the Brazilian Institute of Sport and Education (IEE) in 2012, aims to further the social and sporting legacy of the football event by mobilising citizens, sporting authorities and governments to discuss, educate and reflect on the issues around the practice of and access to sport.

During the World Cup, the initiative visited all 12 host cities, including Brasília, Belo Horizonte, Curitiba, Porto Alegre, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Fortaleza, Manaus, Cuiabá, Salvador, Natal and Recife, to evaluate the levels of participation in sport and other matters, such as local governments' support to sporting initiatives, physical education in schools, training of educators and sporting programmes.

On Thursday 19 March, IEE, UNICEF, Atletas pelo Brasil and the Ministry of Sport will meet in Fortaleza to discuss the results of the touring initiative and draw an action plan to build on the impact and legacy of the World Cup, while promoting the practice of sport in each city. The initiative highlights the benefits of mega events beyond boosting of infrastructures and economic growth.

Former Brazilian Olympic volleyball player and President of IEE, Ana Moser, said: "After drawing different action plans for each city, we want to discuss with our partners their views on these, how doable these were, and above all, understand if these contributed to further a debate around sport as a right to all".

The 'Cidades da Copa' initiative also looks to change people's behaviours towards sport by promoting its practice as a healthy and educational activity, which also contributes to their participation in the public life.

The IEE, founded in 2001, is a sporting organisation that seeks to promote sport among the Brazilian youth, while building the capacity of sporting educators and professionals. Since its beginning over 30 thousand teachers and 2.6 million Brazilian children benefited from its programmes.