By H.E. Mr. Piragibe Tarrago, Ambassador of Brazil to the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Two years after the World Football Cup, the eyes of the world will turn again towards Brazil. Next August (5-21), in the stunning setting of Rio de Janeiro, a South American nation, for the first time in history, will host the Summer Olympic Games, to be followed by the Paralympic Games (7-18 September). Over fifteen thousand athletes from 206 countries will compete in 42 modalities and enjoy outstanding sport facilities, including the Olympic village, set up in different boroughs of the city. Visitors can expect an amazing experience in watching world-class contests, as well as in enjoying the friendly atmosphere of Rio and its dwellers.
With a vast and varied public, including foreign visitors, dignitaries and representatives of several countries, as well as a global audience of over 5 billion people, the Rio 2016 Olympic & Paralympic Games will be one of the biggest sports event ever.
Our ambition is that they can also make a positive difference in the lives of Brazilians beyond the competition proper. We are sure that the Games will leave a long-lasting positive impact on the city and on Brazilian sports culture. That is why Brazil has been working hard to make them a thorough success. Since 2009, the federal government has coordinated over US$ 1 billion in investments, to make sure the Olympic legacy benefits Brazilians in all regions and contribute to developing new generations of world-class athletes. By engaging the people with the Games, we also expect that “the olympic spirit” displayed by the athletes may have an exemplary effect on the youth.
An estimated total of US$ 10 billion will be invested in the Rio 2016 Olympics & Paralympics, two-thirds of that amount being exclusively geared to improvements in the city’s infrastructure. This will leave a legacy in fields like public transportation, road infrastructure, housing and the revitalization of the port area and surrounding neighborhoods. The level of participation of the private sector, one of the highest in the Games’ history, will cover about 60% of the total investments. Preparations are at final stage, and, as of the end of January last, 97% of the construction works of the Olympic Park and the Olympic village had been concluded.
Brazil is also putting in practice the largest integrated security operation in its history, with the concurrence of 85 thousand security personnel, to ensure the safety of all participants. The operation, which includes an anti-terrorism center, builds on the successful experience with the World Cup in 2014, considered a model of a no-major-incident event. The holistic approach to security means the authorities’ attention will not only focus on Rio and the Olympic facilities, but also on efforts to make other regions of Brazil safer. As with the previous events, we are sure Brazil will once again show its capacity to organize world competitions.
Besides a great celebration (a field in which Rio de Janeiro excels), the Games will be instrumental to promote sport as a key tool for peace, tolerance and social inclusion, in particular regarding the rights of persons with disabilities, as well as in the fight against racial, ethnic or gender discrimination.
In this spirit, Brazil is living its “Sports Decade”, having hosted the World Military Games (2011), the FIFA Confederations Cup (2013), the FIFA World Cup (2014) and the World Games of Indigenous Peoples (2015).
At the political level, we were proud to be entrusted the role of initiator of a traditional resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly regarding the observance of the Olympic Truce. In so doing, we have reaffirmed our understanding that the Olympic Truce ideals embody mankind’s willingness to build a world based on peace, humanity and reconciliation.
The Olympic torch is scheduled to arrive in Brazil on 27 April, a very special day for the Dutch. After crossing the country in a 100-day relay, covering over 20 thousand kilometers, it will arrive in Rio. Brazil is honoured and proud to host the 2016 Games and to welcome citizens from around the world with open arms and its distinct hospitality.
Information:
Embassy of Brazil http://haia.itamaraty.gov.br/
