UK: OLYMPICS: Brazil set up high-tech camp in London, hoping to do well as the country which will host the next Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro

Record ID: 346603

  • Title: UK: OLYMPICS: Brazil set up high-tech camp in London, hoping to do well as the country which will host the next Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro
  • Date: 16th July 2012
  • Summary: LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM (JULY 16, 20121) (REUTERS) VIEW OF ATHLETICS TRACK AT CRYSTAL PALACE SPORTS COMPLEX WHICH IS BRAZIL'S OLYMPIC BASE BANNER ON STANDS READING IN PORTUGUESE 'TIME BRASIL' (TEAM BRAZIL IN ENGLISH) VIEW ACROSS STANDS AND TRACK HURDLES ON TRACK BRAZILIAN OFFICIALS AT START OF GUIDED TOUR TO CRYSTAL PALACE FACILITIES INCLUDING BRAZIL'S OLYMPIC MISSION CHIEF BERNARD RAJZMAN (RIGHT OF PICTURE) CLOSE OF RAJZMAN (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) BRAZIL'S OLYMPIC MISSION CHIEF, BERNARD RAJZMAN, SAYING: "It is true that Brazil has grown quite a lot and the whole world has acknowledged that but these things (sports improvement) take time to happen because until the investments made pay off, medals just don't appear overnight. We are working already to prepare for 2016 (Olympics in Rio) and I am sure that all our efforts would make Brazil proud without doubt so we can become part of the first world in Olympic terms." RAJZMAN AMONG OFFICIALS AND MEDIA INSIDE SPORTS COMPLEX VIEW OF SWIMMING POOL DIVING PLATFORM RAJZMAN TURNING AROUND VIEW OF HANDBALL COURT BANNER READING IN PORTUGUESE "TIME BRASIL' TRAINING CENTRE HANDBALL GOAL POST BANNER WITH PICTURES OF BRAZIL'S GOLD MEDAL WINNERS (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) BRAZIL'S OLYMPIC MISSION CHIEF, BERNARD RAJZMAN, TALKING ABOUT BRAZIL'S MEDAL EXPECTATIONS, SAYING: "(I hope) Brazil will be able to achieve higher podium places not only in the Olympics but also in world championships and this is for sure the best ever preparation we have for the Olympics." VIEW OF 'DRY' ROOM USED FOR DIVING PRACTICE AWAY FROM POOL DIVING BOARD NET UNDER DIVING BOARD BOXING TRAINING ROOM PUNCH BAGS ROBOT USED BY SPORTS SCIENCE EXPERTS (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) BRAZIL'S OLYMPIC MISSION CHIEF, BERNARD RAJZMAN, SAYING: "We are experiencing a special moment in terms of the preparation of our athletes in different disciplines. Sports have been developing a lot in our country, backed up by resources and technology." SPORTS SCIENCE EXPERT IN FRONT OF COMPUTER WITH A STICK USED TO MOVE THE ROBOT PICTURE OF BRAZILIAN CHIEF OLYMPIC DOCTOR JOSE PADILHA ON COMPUTER SCREEN (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) BRAZILIAN CHIEF OLYMPIC DOCTOR JOSE PADILHA, TALKING ABOUT ROBOT, SAYING: "He is here to help those who are competing. The robot amplifies our eyes at the end of the distant problem we have to deal with. He does not get tired and goes 'spying', amplifying our vision." BEACH VOLLEYBALL COURT WITH SAND PREVIOUSLY AT HORSEGUARDS PARADE VENUE WHERE BEACH VOLLEYBALL WILL TAKE PLACE NET PROTECTION AT BEACH VOLLEYBALL COURT (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) BRAZIL'S OLYMPIC MISSION CHIEF BERNARD RAJZMAN, WHO IS A FORMER INDOOR VOLLEYBALL PLAYER WHO WON SILVER WITH BRAZIL IN THE 1984 OLYMPICS, SAYING: "Brazil's men and women's teams are always able to get onto the podiums. This is important because it gives us the foundations to achieve success in other sports. The preparation has gone well and Brazil is prepared to aim for medals in the four disciplines." PEOPLE QUEUING FOR FOOD AT BRAZILIAN OLYMPIC CANTEEN INSIDE CRYSTAL PALACE SPORTS COMPLEX CHEF ARRANGING FOOD ON FOOD TRAY MEAT ON FOOD TRAY SALAD SERVING BOWLS ON DSPLAY / BRAZILIAN DELEGATION CHEF ROBERTA SUDBRAK GIVING INTERVIEW (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) BRAZILIAN DELEGATION CHEF ROBERTA SUDBRAK SAYING: "In short time they have to eat, we are going to try to make them feel at home with recipes based on Brazilian taste. This affection and emotion might give them some extra help." BANNER ON CRYSTAL PALACE COMPLEX BLOCK OF FLATS THAT WILL ACCOMMODATE 144 MEMBERS OF THE BRAZILIAN DELEGATION (ATHLETES AND STAFF) VIEW OF BLOCK OF FLATS TO BE USED BY 'TIME BRASIL'
  • Embargoed: 31st July 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: United Kingdom
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA515VEVB1EDZZ0069MHLNYQSZJ
  • Story Text: Brazil set up camp on Monday (July 16) at their Olympic base in Crystal Palace, a sports complex in the south of London, aiming to improve the total of 15 medals won in Beijing 2008.
    The country will be represented by 259 athletes -- 136 men and 123 women competing in 32 disciplines.
    The South American giant, now the world's sixth biggest economy, is eager to do especially well in London 2012 because the next Olympics will be staged in Rio in 2016 Brazil's Olympic Mission Chief, Bernard Rajzman, who won a silver medal with the indoor volleyball team in 1984, said that Brazil is in the right direction to become also a world power in sports.
    "It is true that Brazil has grown quite a lot and the whole world has acknowledged that," he said during a tour of the facilities to be used by 'Time Brasil'.
    "Medals just don't appear overnight. We are working already to prepare for 2016 (Olympics in Rio) and I am sure that all our efforts would make Brazil proud without doubt so we can become part of the first world in Olympic terms."
    Crystal Palace will be Brazil's main training centre outside the Olympic Park-- and that is a novelty from preparations in previous Games.
    Athletes from more than 10 sports will be training there including athletics, beach volleyball, boxing, taekwondo, basketball, handball, modern pentathlon, diving and swimming.
    Brazil has won only 20 gold medals in Olympic history. The last three were in Beijing with Cesar Cielo in the men's 50 metres freestyle, Maurren Maggi in the long jump and the women's volleyball team but Rajzman said expectations are higher now.
    "(I hope) Brazil will be able to achieve higher podium places not only in the Olympics but also in world championships and this is for sure the best ever preparation we have for the Olympics," he said.
    With plenty of support from the government and sponsors, Brazil are relying on sophisticated robot technology in their quest for gold.
    "We are experiencing a special moment in terms of the preparation of our athletes in different disciplines," he said. "Sports have been developing a lot in our country, backed up by resources and technology."
    The robot was in action at the weekend when Brazilian gymnast Lais de Sousa suffered an injury in England and Brazilian Chief Doctor Jose Padilha was able to use the robot in London and treat the gymnast who was in Ipswich, while a hospital in Miami confirmed the fracture.
    "He is here to help those who are competing," Padilha said. "The robot amplifies our eyes at the end of the distant problem we have to deal with. He does not get tired and goes 'spying', amplifying our vision."
    The presence of NBA starts Leandrinho and Anderson Verejao will boost the chances of success for the basketball team coached by Argentine Ruben Magnano. But Rajzman believes that Brazil can go for a clean sweep in the four volleyball events.
    "Brazil's men and women's teams are always able to get onto the podiums," said Rajzman who also became known for inventing the so-called Star Trek serve, hitting the ball as high as possible into the opponent's court. "This is important because it gives us the foundations to achieve success in other sports. The preparation has gone well and Brazil is prepared to aim for medals in the four disciplines."
    Roberta Sudbrack, who was the chef during the presidency of Fernando Henrique Cardoso, will make sure the athletes feel like they are at home by cooking local dishes.
    "In short time they have to eat, we are going to try to make them feel at home with recipes based on Brazilian taste," Sudbrack said. "This affection and emotion might give them some extra help."
    Brazilian football is highly successful internationally but both the men's and women's teams are still chasing an elusive Olympic gold medal. They will be based away from Crystal Palace as matches will take place across the UK.
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