RIO DE JANEIRO -- If the golf swing required less technique and more rhythm -- like samba dancing, say -- the sport would no doubt be monopolized by Brazilians. Instead, after watching a dozen or so novices take their first lesson, its barely an exaggeration to say the instruction begins with which end of the club to grip.Golf and other sports at the Rio Olympics are offering Fan Zones that give the chance to train like an Olympian. For the price of an event ticket, spectators can practice boxing, riding, fencing, rowing and other sports at zones set up just outside the field of play and usually with an instructor nearby. For obvious reasons, shooting is the rare venue without one.The zones, for the most part, aim to popularize Olympic sports to a futebol-mad nation of 200 million people.In the case of golf, where the games roots are old but not deep, the interactive teaching and recreational center at the Olympic Golf Course is run with the assistance of the Brazilian Golf Federation, which has also launched a program Golf Para Vida (Golf For Life) hoping to introduce schoolkids to the game during the two weeks of the tournament.Marcello do Nascimento, a Rio native who got his start as a caddie at one of the citys two private clubs and is now one of 250 teaching pros in the country, estimated hed given roughly 700 lessons during the first three days of the mens competition.On either side of him, three hitting bays with artificial-turf mats and netting, as well as a miniature golf course are swarmed with kids and their parents. Off to one side, at least 10 people wait in line to take a shot at video simulators that measure longest drive and closest shot to the pin.About 200 people had some familiarity with the game before, do Nacimento said through a translator. But perhaps 80 have taken my card already and many of them have inquired about where they can buy clubs.By that measure, Artur Nunes is a promising student. The 12-year-old from Rio plays tennis, so at least hes had some practice whacking a ball in space, and he took his first lesson when the family was on vacation. Even so, do Nascimento begins with the basics, emphasizing the proper grip and stance.Artur pays close attention, but lets on a moment later that the thing he likes most about golf is how far -- on those few occasions when he hits it flush -- the ball travels.His mother, Claudia, on the other hand, views the game more practically. She works in the human resources of a Rio-based company and thinks learning the game would help Artur in the future.Here, its still a game for the elite, but it can also be an opportunity to meet people, she said. The more it becomes available to the public, the more I believe people will take it up.About 25,000 Brazilians play at least one round a year on the countrys 125 courses and 10,000 golfers have registered handicaps. There are 125 golf courses spread across the country, but currently not even one public layout in the Rio metropolitan area. After the games, the Olympic course will be handed over to the city for 20 years, with up to 100 youngsters allowed on the course each day.USA Soccer Shirts . -- In one brief spurt, Brazil turned a close game into a rout and proved again it will be a strong World Cup favourite. DeAndre Yedlin Jersey . The team says the Spain international has a muscle pull in his right leg. Barcelona hosts third-division side Cartagena in the return leg of their round-of-32 tie after winning their first meeting 4-1. https://www.cheapusasoccer.com/ .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. Djordje Mihailovic Jersey . - After leading the Saints to a fourth playoff appearance in five seasons, Drew Brees expressed confidence in the direction of his team and, perhaps more importantly, showed a willingness to listen to contract proposals if the team needs his help getting under the NFLs salary cap. USA Soccer Gear . -- Linebacker Myles Jack ran for four touchdowns, defensive end Cassius Marsh caught a scoring pass, and No.Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino claims people around the club must ignore north London rivals Arsenal and focus on their own ambitions.Spurs have not finished ahead of Arsenal in the league since 1995, but they will bring that run to an end should they secure a point against Newcastle next weekend.Arsene Wenger has had the upper hand in every year of his Arsenal reign against a stream of Tottenham managers. Pochettino says Spurs have improvements to make But Pochettino is determined not to obsess about local bragging rights and has urged all at White Hart Lane to adopt a similar approach.And after falling just short of new English champions Leicester this season, Pochettino is determined to secure the title at the next attempt.Following Tottenhams 2-1 reverse to Southampton, Pochettino said: I think that I dont care about Arsenal, I want to win the league, I want to be on top but Arsenal I do not care about. When Spurs last pipped Arsenal We recall the last time Spurs finished above their rivals Sure I want to be above them, but this I think is normal.dddddddddddd But to try to improve, to try and be bigger, we need to concentrate on us and not look what is happening with our neighbours.We feel disappointed, I think that our last game at home we want to win but we are disappointed.As for what his team need to improve on for next season, Pochettino said: I think we need to put our energy in trying to win games like today. Toby Alderweireld scores in Tottenhams 2-2 draw with Arsenal in March It does not matter if it is Southampton, Arsenal or Chelsea, we want to win, we want to be above them and now we are the same next season too.Two shots on target for them and they scored twice and we scored only once with 70 per cent possession but in football you never know.It has been a good experience for us to learn from this season. We improved from last season but we need to still improve and try to improve and try to be better.Also See:Davis double downs SpursPochettino: We lacked solidityPochs five year plan?When Spurs last pipped Arsenal ' ' '