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Rio 2016 Welcome Best So Far – IOC

The Associated Press reports Brazilian officials believe they made a good impression on the 13-member International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Evaluation Commission when it arrived in Rio de Janeiro to inspect the city’s bid for the 2016 Summer Olympic Games.

Brazilian Olympic Committee president Carlos Arthur Nuzman said the IOC members told him the welcoming activities prepared by the city were the best so far. The team has already visited Tokyo and Chicago, with Madrid next on its agenda.

Monday the commission was welcomed by the city’s mayor Eduardo Paes, and the state’s governor. Paes said Tuesday that none of the other cities enjoyed as much popular support as Rio and that the local authorities, State and Federal Government, were united in “bringing to fruition the required changes to the city that should be implemented in bringing the Games to the continent”.

Tuesday and Wednesday the evaluation commission have been holding private meetings and will meet with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Thursday.

Paes said that President Lula was really enthusiastic and totally involved in the bid.

The commission will tour the city’s sports facilities and tourist sites on Friday.

One of the bid members, Carlos Martins, told AFP that Rio’s bid was strong because it had realistic budget and financial guarantees which was important in the present global financial crisis.

He said, “Rio would be an historic choice. If we are chosen, we will begin work at full speed the very next day. We are convinced that our candidate is the best with a realistic budget and cast iron financial guarantees. This time it is the turn of Rio”.

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