I'm not a coffee addict, I just can't live without it.

The participation of the Brazilian team in the Olympic games of 1932, in Los Angeles, U.S was supported by the Brazil’s Sports Federation through a unprecedent financing scheme. The 87 athletes sailed from Rio de Janeiro aboard a ship, The Itaquicê, carrying more that 49, 000 bags of coffee beans. The expectation was for them to sell part of the merchandise so they could pay their travel expenses. It was a very long crossing with several stops along the way, so the delegation planned to sell part of the load at ports they anchored. In July, the 6^th, they made their first attempt at Port of Spain in Trinidad without success as they were not able to sell much of it. Concerned with the high transit fees at the Panama Canal due to the heavy load of coffee beans still on board, the delegation tried to convince the crossing agents that they were travelling on a naval vessel and transporting two big cannons. But the agents did not fall for this argument, so they were forced to pay the fees. On July 22^nd, The Itaquicê arrived at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro. At that moment, the delegation had enough money to pay the disembarking fee for just 24 of their athletes. After a few days, approximately 45 of them managed, somehow, to leave the ship and reach the Olympic Village so the rest had to remain in the ship and renounce to the Olympics’ dream. Despite of the drawbacks, around 22,000 bags were sold at the port of Los Angeles which represents the largest coffee cargo ever unloaded at this port. The Itaquicê then sailed to San Francisco on July the 25 ^th where they sold most of the batch. However, 8,000 bags still remained on board after more than a week of difficulties and legal battles. On August 4^th, the ship departed back to Los Angeles in the effort to sell the remaining coffee cargo. Finally, on August 19 ^th, and after a huge disappointment in the Olympic event, The Itaquicê finally sailed back to Rio the Janeiro free of its coffee cargo which allowed the Brazilians to purchase some food for the trip. The story of the 1932 Brazilian “Coffee” delegation and their journey on board The Itaquicê, is one of the most remarkable anecdotes of both the history of Coffee and Olympic games.