For the first time in South America, two of the world’s biggest sport events – the Summer Olympics and the Paralympics will take place in Brazil, particularly in Rio de Janeiro in 2016. Considered a milestone for the city, the event will bring about 10, 500 athletes coming from about 205 countries in the world and thousands of media professionals, fans, and tourists throughout the globe. As this will open big opportunities in Rio de Janeiro, the event also offers huge challenges not just to the city but the country as well.
Bidding
Rio de Janeiro’s bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics and Paralympics was the first time the city’s bid reached the phase for Candidature. Its attempts in 1936, 2004, and 2012 Summer Olympics all failed to proceed to the next phase of the bidding.
The city submitted its ‘application’ as host city on September 13, 2007. It made to the short list (as Candidate city) of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on June 4, 2008, along with three other ‘applicant’ cities (there were 6 cities who initially took the bid): Tokyo, Madrid, and Chicago. On October 2, 2009, Rio won the bid as Host city as announced by Jacques Rogge, IOC president in the committee’s 121st Session.
Planning
Rio de Janeiro plans to hold most of the competitions of the Summer Olympics inside the city. It has allotted US$14.4 billion for the event, which will include construction of several infrastructures. For the sport event as big as this, Rio will undergo a kind of transformation that will not compromise its Brazilian energy and Carioca spirit.
Copacobana, Maracana, Deodoro, and Barra are the four Olympic zones in Rio. All zones will house a total of 30 competition venues. Most of the sport competitions will be held in those venues except for the football matches which will take place in four Brazilian cities: Salvador, Sao Paulo, Brasilia, and Belo Horizonte.
Logo
The symbol of Rio 2016 resembles three figures in blue, green, and yellow embracing at arms in a triple hug. Four pillars were used as basis for this logo: harmonious diversity, contagious energy, exuberant nature, and the Olympic spirit. The logo was the winning design of Tatil, an agency in Rio, after beating 139 agencies.
Aside from using the colours found in Brazil’s flag, the logo is said to evoke Henri Matisse’s painting called, The Dance and truly reflects the city and the country’s vision for the Olympic Games.
As the days draw near for 2016 Olympics, more and more exciting changes, renovations, and events are to be expected in Rio which will also have to draw more and more people from all over the world.