News It doesn't take visitors long to realise that Rio de Janeiro is a completely sport-mad city It's easy to see why: year-round warm weather, a varied and beautiful landscape with beaches, lagoons, mangroves and mountains, plus beachwear where less is definitely more, all make for a culture that revolves almost entirely around physical activity   It is the ideal backdrop not only for the next two months of 65 Olympic and Paralympic disciplines but for many sports that haven't made it onto the official Rio 2016 programme Cariocas (as Rio residents are called), tourists and even visiting athletes can have a go at a long list of alternative sports in the city, often absolutely free Check out rio2016 com’s rundown of five of the best non-Olympic sports to enjoy in Rio de Janeiro Beach Tennis Frescobol, the popular beach sport in which players work together to rally a ball back and forth, has been a feature of Rio life for years But sometimes sport needs a winner and that’s where beach tennis comes in Beach tennis has the same scoring system as regular tennis and similar court rules to volleyball (high nets are used and the ball cannot touch the ground) Posto 12 in Leblon and Pepê Beach in Barra are two great beach tennis hotspots You can often get involved just by turning up and asking to join a game Nets and paddles are usually provided No experience is needed, all you need is beachwear and a good attitude   Slackline Another outdoor activity that has become a sensation in Rio in recent years, slackline is best described as a cross between tightrope walking and trampolining Its popularity is surely down to its simplicity – all you need is two fixed points, which in subtropical Rio usually consist of two palm trees, and a tape upon which you will balance and bounce your way across Slackline enthusiasts can be found all along Rio's southern coast, especially in Copacabana and Ipanema   Footvolley Like beach volleyball, just with no hands! This sport is a carioca favourite You may even be more likely to see futevôlei or footvolley being played on Rio’s beaches than its older relative volleyball Footvolley enthusiasts play from Copacabana right down the coast to Barra The best and most competitive games usually take place along the Ipanema/Leblon strip where players usually slap a few reais down on the match Unlike some of the other sports on this list, footvolley does require a good amount of skill to play But don’t worry if you can’t juggle the ball like Neymar; footvolley is one of the best amateur sports to watch If you're lucky, you'll see some of the former World Cup stars of the seleção in action   Stand-up paddle This sport has made waves across the world and has taken Brazil’s legendary beach city by storm SUP (pronounced 'soupie' in Brazil) is one of those rare sports that are immensely enjoyable when done alone The rhythmic paddling and gentle waters make for a peaceful, meditative escape on the water, especially when you factor in Rio’s stunning natural backdrop Some of the best places for SUP include Praia Vermelha in Urca, Arpoador at the start of Ipanema and the still waters near Fort Copacabana Further west at Restinga de Marambaia in Barra you can paddle through luscious mangroves and lagoons, but be sure to go with a guide as paddling here can be a bit of a labyrinth Beginners should always enlist the help of a guide The western end of Copacabana beach is one of the most popular locations for SUP (Photo: Getty Images/Mario Tama) Trail running Combine one of Rio’s favourite pastimes, running, with the city's acres of natural beauty and you have one of the most exhilarating sporting activities you can enjoy without needing a helmet or signing a risk assessment form Rio de Janeiro has hundreds of miles of wild trails at the intrepid runner’s feet As an increasing number of cariocas and tourists take to the city’s hills and forests to run, running clubs and groups are springing up all over the city: all it takes is a quick Google or Facebook search Some of the best runs can be found in Tijuca Forest, including Paineiras and Alto da Boa Vista There also plentiful trails in Rio state, in the mountains around Teresópolis and Petrópolis Trail running is growing in popularity all across the state of Rio de Janeiro (Photo: Corridas de Montanha) The magnificent seven: Olympic hikes to take your breath away in Rio