Rio de Janeiro staged a successful Pan American Games in 2007 and will host the 2014 World Cup, while the 2007 Asian Games in Qatar were also successful. These are some of the reasons why Rio and Doha feel they can each stage the Summer Olympic Games in 2016.
Rio released its bid plans Tuesday which reveals that all sporting events will be held within the city of 12 million people.
Rio de Janeiro state Governor Sergio Cabral said on the Brazilian Olympic Committee website “the time is now. We did our homework and we have a good project. Rio de Janeiro will show the world a unique way to celebrate the Olympic Games”.
The events will be centred in four districts, Copacabana beach, Deodoro on the city’s north side, the modern Barre de Tijuca beach district, and the Maracana stadium complex. The areas were used in the 2007 Pan Am Games.
Rio plans to use 19 existing venues, including many that will be in place for the 2014 World Cup. Seven more venues will be built as well as four temporary venues.
Meanwhile Doha says by 2016 it expects to have more than 80,000 hotel rooms.
Major Olympic sites will be linked by a metro system and more than 300 km. of highways and roads.
The new airport will accommodate 50 million passengers a year.
According to Doha 2016 the bid has the full support of Qatar’s government which promises to make the 2016 Games the safest in Olympic history.
