The Brazil Olympic Committee has played host to a meeting of its coaches from across sport, allowing them to share experiences and ideas aimed at ensuring a strong performance at Rio 2016 ©COB

The Brazil Olympic Committee (COB) has played host to a meeting of coaches from across sport, allowing them to share experiences and ideas aimed at ensuring a strong performance by the host nation at Rio 2016.

Approximately 50 professionals from various Olympic sports took part in the meeting, including Brazil’s men’s volleyball coach Bernardo Rezende.

Bernardinho, as he is more commonly known, is considered the most successful coach in the history of volleyball, accumulating more than 30 major titles in a 20-year career.

Having won an Olympic silver medal as a player at the Los Angeles Games in 1984, Bernardinho bettered that feat as a coach by guiding Brazil to gold at Athens 2004.

Silver medals followed at Beijing 2008 and London 2012, while he also has three world titles and two World Cups to his name.

Among those joining Bernardinho at the meeting were Spain's Jesus Morlán, Brazil's Marcos Goto, Croatia's Ratko Rudić and Denmark's Morten Soubak, coaches for Brazil in canoeing, gymnastics, water polo and handball respectively. 

"I would like to thank all present and congratulate you on being together in this meeting of the people who really lead, direct, participate and have a great influence on the athletes," said Carlos Nuzman, President of the COB and the Rio 2016 Organising Committee.

"The example you are giving I have rarely seen around the world.

"We have a great trust in your work."

Bernardo Rezende, coach of Brazil's men's volleyball team, was among those in attendance at the meeting
Bernardo Rezende, coach of Brazil's men's volleyball team, was among those in attendance at the meeting ©Getty Images

In addition to the exchange of experiences among participants, the meeting included presentations by the coach of Brazil's canoe team, Jesús Morlan, and the high performance manager of the Brazilian Judo Confederation, Ney Wilson.

"I have participated since the first meeting and I can say that these meetings have contributed much to our sports," said Wilson.

"We have many good coaches here who have brought new elements that can benefit other sports."

Four-time Olympic silver medal-winning swimmer Gustavo Borges represented former Brazilian athletes at the meeting.

The group is due to meet three more times before the start of Rio 2016, which is scheduled to take place from August 5 to 21.