- Title: BRAZIL: IOC show support for Rio de Janeiro's bid to host Olympic Games
- Date: 3rd May 2009
- Summary: RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL (MAY 02, 2009) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF COPACABANA BEACH WITH SUGAR LOAF MOUNTAIN IN BACKGROUND
- Embargoed: 18th May 2009 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Brazil
- City:
- Country: Brazil
- Topics: Sports
- Reuters ID: LVA9MOX2C98GMSDCD681UPK1YOJR
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- Story Text: Rio de Janeiro's plan to use the 2016 Olympic Games as a tool for Brazil's development strategy was backed by the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) president on Saturday (May 2), the last day of a vital inspection visit that will decide the Games' host.
Rio is bidding to become the first South American country to host an Olympics and has pledged to cover a staggering $14.4 billion budget.
The sprawling city's residents are mostly in favor of its bid to host the 2016 Games, but hope security and infrastructure issues will be solved by then.
"We have a series of problems that must be solved, like traffic infrastructure, environment, security and I believe all of this has to be minimized for the Olympic Games. But I hope it (Olympic Games) comes to Rio," said Rio resident Remy Lopes.
Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva showed his full support for Rio's bid and said the Olympics would be a great push for the country's progress.
Other prominent figures such as soccer legend Pele and former FIFA president Joao Havelange also reached out to support Rio's candidacy this week.
In a news conference after a week-long evaluation visit to the tourist city, the head of the IOC commission, former Moroccan athlete Nawal El Moutawakel, told reporters the Games were perfectly in tune with Brazil's development plan.
"The Games fit perfectly well in Brazil's plan for the development of the country. There is a vision, between now and many years yet to come and the Olympic Games are right in the middle of a global vision led by President Lula and his entire government," she said.
The IOC Executive Director for the Olympic Games, Gilbert Felli, said hosting the 2014 World Cup would help the city prepare for the Games.
"The World Cup and Games have two years of difference and as I have said, of course the technical aspects will bring all the benefits because we will have the team we have trained and prepared. But of course, we will have some challenges in aspects of the preparation, but the benefits are greater than the risks of hosting these two events because the main parts of the infrastructure would be ready (for the World Cup)," he told reporters.
Even with most of its facilities in place as part of the legacy of the 2007 Pan American Games, the sprawling city will need to inject billions into infrastructure projects.
The IOC team is set to visit bidders Madrid in the upcoming week as they make final their final evaluations ahead of the host city naming on October 2. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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