BRAZIL-OLYMPICS-RIO 2016: President Dilma Rousseff signs a package authorizing massive spending on athletics, which she hopes will propel Brazil into a top medal winner when it hosts the 2016 Olympics.

Record ID: 331174

  • Title: BRAZIL-OLYMPICS-RIO 2016: President Dilma Rousseff signs a package authorizing massive spending on athletics, which she hopes will propel Brazil into a top medal winner when it hosts the 2016 Olympics.
  • Date: 14th September 2012
  • Summary: RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL (FILE) (REUTERS- ACCESS ALL) VARIOUS OF OLYMPIC MEDAL WINNERS YAMAGUCHI (BRONZE) AND ESQUIVA FALCAO (SILVER) INTERACTING WITH CHILDREN
  • Embargoed: 29th September 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Brazil
  • Country: Brazil
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA3WTEQGGJASD9832CE8JUVT3IT
  • Story Text: Brazil President Dilma Rousseff signed a plan on Thursday (September 13) authorizing a surge in spending on athletes and facilities in the hopes that the South American nation will make the top 10 medals table when it hosts the 2016 Olympics.
    The initiative, called Medals 2016 Plan, goes into effect immediately and directs the government to spend $700 million over the next four years on high performance athletes alone -- triple the amount in the run-up to the London games.
    According to the Brazilian President it will emphasize the athlete, the coach and infrastructure.

    "The Brazil Medals Plan will augment what we think is paramount. Firstly, the assistance given directly to the athlete, which will be obtained through the Podium Scholarship and the Coach Scholarship, among other things. But also improving infrastructure, and the technology through the construction of training centres," she said.
    Much of the investment comes from lottery funding. Two percent of Brazil's federal lottery money -- 140 million reais ($70 million) last year -- goes to the Brazilian Olympic Committee with the rest coming from sponsors, companies, and federal, state and municipal authorities.
    Brazil, already amongst the world's top economies, had a mediocre performance in the London Olympics.
    The biggest and most populous country in South America won 17 medals in London, two more than its previous best in Beijing, finishing 22nd place in the overall standings.
    However, officials were frustrated after Brazil managed only three golds and at the general shortage of medals in the swimming pool and on the athletics track.
    It performed significantly better in the London Paralympics, finishing 7th overall.
    The 2016 hosts have decided to focus more on individual events in a bid to win more medals in front of their own fans.
    Sports Minister Aldo Rebelo said by 2016 he expects Brazil to be competing with the top nations.

    "We expect Brazil to be among the top 10 in overall standings in the 2016 Olympics and among the top 5 in the 2016 Paralympics."
    The London Games revealed some bright prospects, however.
    Brothers Esquiva and Yamaguchi Falcao won silver and bronze respectively in boxing.
    The biggest surprise was Arthur Zanetti, the only athlete to ever win Olympic gold in Gymnasts.
    Brazil will be a major hub for international sporting events in the few years.
    Between 2013 and 2016 the country will host FIFA's Confederations Cup, the World Cup and the Rio Olympics.
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