1073 With the results obtained above, we faced both the challenge and the opportunity to implement the company’s first post-mining project in an urban mining context, generating a positive impact for the thousands of people who live around the Águas Claras Mine. Another challenge was understanding how the territory and its spaces would be able to absorb sports events, and what kinds of impacts could emerge for the environment and for the neighboring communities. And, of course, it was essential to seek technical partners capable of helping us advance in the project. This process followed a clear sequence of learning and validation cycles: Potential and constraints studies → Listening → Aptitude findings → Tests → Listening → Validation → Results 3) Gradual Opening Through Sports-Based Pilots From 2022 to 2025, we conducted seven pilot events in modalities such as trail running, MTB, triathlon, scuba diving, free-diving, and leisure activities. Across these pilots, we gradually increased capacity and operational complexity—from events limited to 350 participants, progressing to ~700, and eventually reaching larger official events. This “sandbox” format enabled iterative learning and continuous adjustments in access flows, safety procedures, mobility management, support infrastructure, and communication with neighboring communities. The approach aligns with the prototyping and validation cycles of Design Thinking, particularly the Double Diamond model (Januário et al., 2023), and with the understanding of engagement as a process that unfolds throughout the project lifecycle, as emphasized in international guidance on participatory processes (The University of Queensland – Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining [UQ/CSRM], 2020). Figure 2 — Xterra Brasil 2025 4) Strategic partneships Collaboration with the international XTerra circuit enabled the execution of three events, including the official XTerra Brazil stage, which gathered 1,500 athletes and a total audience of about 2,000 people. Another strategic partnership is with the Blue Hole project, which brings together some of the world’s leading free-diving athletes to transform the quarry lake into one of the most significant blue holes on the planet.
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