IOC Coordination Commission successfully wraps up first visit to Rio

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Coordination Commission for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro successfully concluded its first visit to the Brazilian host city, with Commission Chair Nawal El Moutawakel saying she was pleased with the outcome of the three-day series of meetings.

In addition to talks with key figures of the Rio Games project, including members of the federal, state and city governments, Minister Orlando Silva, Governor Sérgio Cabral, and Mayor Eduardo Paes, the Commission also got a first-hand look at the venues and was provided with detailed information by the Games organisers. The Commission was pleased to hear about the progress being made by the Organising Committee in a number of areas, such as sport, marketing, and branding, as well as the other operational elements that Rio 2016 has already set in motion.

The Brazilian government gave a presentation to the Commission on the Olympic Delivery Authority (APO) — the body tasked with developing and building new venues and infrastructure, and which will facilitate coordination between the three levels of local government (federal, state, and city). The authorities explained the process of the APO’s creation and outlined the roles and responsibilities of the partners involved. The Commission underlined that it was important for the APO to become operational as quickly as possible because of the great amount of work that still needed to be completed ahead of the Games.

“Rio has made a good start to the project”, said El Moutawakel. “It has laid a solid foundation, but the scope of the Olympic project is immense, and it is important that no time is wasted. That is why it’s fantastic to note that all 26 originally planned Olympic sports now have a home and that the venue locations are secured. We were also pleased to see that the whole of Brazil continues to be behind the Games, which was underlined to us by the strong support for the Games from all levels of government.”

Rio 2016 President, Carlos Nuzman, commented: “It was a pleasure to have the IOC Coordination Commission with us and I would like to thank my friend and colleague, Nawal El Moutawakel, for leading such a prepared and experienced group during these days of work in Rio. We have been working hard over the last seven months, and I am very glad that the Rio 2016 Organising Committee is formed and already operational, working to deliver on our commitments. This visit was a great opportunity for us to show the steps we have taken forward in the project and to share the progress of our partners in the government with the Coordination Commission. I am confident that this first visit helped forge a close and truthful relationship for the next six years of work ahead of us.”

The Commission visited a number of venues that will play important roles during the Games, including the RioCentro Convention Centre, Rio OIympic Arena, Maria Lenk Aquatic Centre and João Havelange Stadium, and also met representatives from Brazilian television networks Record and Globo.

The Coordination Commission will make its second visit to Rio next year.

Source: IOC