Confident Rio ready to land first South American Games

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Confident Rio ready to land first South American Games


Tue Sep 29, 12:03 PM

By Karolos Grohmann


COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - The time has finally come for a South American city to host the Olympic Games with Brazil enjoying unprecedented economic and social growth, confident Rio 2016 bid leaders said on Tuesday.

Rio is up against Chicago, Madrid and Tokyo with the International Olympic Committee set to choose the winning bid on October 2 in the Danish capital.

"We have arrived in the field of play," bid leader Carlos Nuzman, also an IOC member, told reporters. "I love this moment. The best moment for me is on the field of play and the feeling is completely different."

"We have the adrenaline and the best players love the high adrenaline."

Rio has bid for the Games in the past but failed to land them, always dropping out in early rounds of voting.

Nuzman said the time has was right with the Brazilian economy robust, poverty levels falling and the current bid being of the highest standard.

"I can tell you Rio is ready. The Games plan is the city plan and this Games plan was approved (by the IOC). This is a momentum and you cannot compare it (with past bids). It is one of the most complete bids in the Olympic history."

MAJOR EVENT

Rio governor Sergio Cabral said the city and country were prepared for such a major event.

"Brazil has a strong economy. More than 30 million people left the poverty situation for middle class. The World Bank has said in five years Brazil will be the fifth largest economy in the world.

"Of the 10 largest economies in the world only Brazil did not have the Olympic Games," Cabral said. "This is a historical moment for our country, for our continent, for our state. This is our moment, the moment of Brazil."

Rio officials also said hosting the 2014 soccer World Cup was an "asset" for Games preparations, despite IOC concerns that the World Cup could cut into Olympic sponsorship efforts with both events so close together.

"Having the World Cup is an asset for our campaign. Almost all of the things that are in our bid book, they will be ready by 2014," said Rio mayor Eduardo Paes.

"For us having the World Cup is big chance of having things ready," he said. "It is a fantastic city, it is a marvelous city and it will change forever the Olympic Games."

(Editing by Ed Osmond)