Rio 2016’s bid for the 2016 Summer Olympic Games made a strong pitch Tuesday to the 200 participants of the General Assembly of the Association of National Olympic Committee’s of Africa (ANOCA) in Abuja.
Rio 2016 President Carlos Arthur Nuzman opened the presentation by outlining the four pillars of the city’s bid – technical excellence, the power to transform the city and country, adding value to the Olympic Movement, and providing a unique experience for all involved – and the close ties between Brazil and Africa.
He said, “we have a lot of heritage and traditions in common, reflected in our culture, music, cuisine and of course in sport. We have the dream of bringing the Olympic Games for the first time to South America, opening the doors to a new continent. The Olympic flame is most brilliant when it brings people together and marks new chapters in history. In the twenty-first century the Olympic Movement must embrace new sports, new technologies and new people”.
Two videos were shown during the presentation. The first featured a virtual flight over the city, showing the location of the sports venues and the Olympic Village, and the four main Games zones. The second video showed the passion of Rio’s residents and how sport is a part of the city’s routine.
Rio 2016 secretary general Carlos Roberto Osorio said, “all events will be held in the city, so that everyone can experience this celebration to the maximum. We made a point of meeting with representatives of Olympic committees from diverse parts of the world to understand their needs and to prepare a project focused on sport”.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Tuesday now is the right time for a South American country to host its first Olympics, reports The Associated Press. “We can’t accept the idea that the Olympic Games belong exclusively to the rich countries”.
Silva believes that “the Olympics in a European country, in Japan, or in the United States of America is quite simply just one more Olympic Games” while holding the event in South America would be a refreshing change.
He said, “South America has never hosted the Olympic Games. I respect all the other candidates. But I think Rio de Janeiro deserves this chance”.
