Rio de Janeiro’s bid to host the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games was one of the themes at a lunch today hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) with Mayor Eduardo Paes. João César Lima, President of the Rio de Janeiro branch of Amchan, declared his support for the Rio 2016 bid during the event.

Founded in 1919, Amcham Brasil is the second largest US Chamber of Commerce in the world outside the United States. The organization counts approximately 5,400 partners, including small, medium and large companies. “We will make the most of the opportunity to collaborate with the Rio 2016 Bid Committee and all levels of government to bring the Olympic and Paralympic Games to Rio in 2016. We plan to adopt the bid’s logo to demonstrate our organization’s engagement, creating synergies with the project and promoting the Olympic Movement in Rio. Furthermore, we will encourage our associates to come forward and express their support for the campaign in the coming months,” said Lima.

Mayor Eduardo Paes addressed over 160 participants at the event and explained the benefits and long-lasting legacy that the Olympic and Paralympic Games can deliver for the city. “Our plans are well-structured and serious. Rio de Janeiro offers an opportunity to inspire millions of youth in Brazil and South America and deliver a significant legacy. We are delighted with the support of the business community to date and look forward to working with them moving forward,” he said.

Carlos Roberto Osório, Secretary General of Rio 2016, reiterated the importance of the American Chamber of Commerce’s support during this final stage of the campaign: “The strong support demonstrated by AmCham’s members further illustrates the seriousness of the Rio 2016 project and the commitment of stakeholders across the city and the country. They know that hosting the Games will transform the city and Brazilian sport for generations to come.”