The 2008 Brazilian Olympic Awards, organized by the Brazilian Olympic Committee (COB), were marked by recognition for Brazilian athletes’ achievements in this year’s Olympic Games and their support for Rio de Janeiro’s bid to host the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The ceremony took place yesterday, at the Modern Art Museum in Rio.

The stars of the evening were César Cielo and Maurren Maggi, who won the Athlete of the Year awards. Paralympic athletes Daniel Dias and Terezinha Guilhermina also received awards, as well as 43 athletes chosen as the best of 2008 in their sports categories. COB’s president, Carlos Arthur Nuzman, emphasized the importance of the awards. "This party celebrates the tenth anniversary of the Brazilian Olympic Awards and its leading protagonists, the athletes. I would like to thank the three levels of government for their support during this Olympic cycle, which ended in 2008,” said Nuzman.

If Rio de Janeiro is chosen to host the 2016 Games, Cielo will participate in the world’s largest sports event in his own country. He believes that the event will leave an important legacy for the city. “In 2016, I hope to be competing in my third Olympic Games and I’m rooting for Rio de Janeiro. The city will take advantage of the infrastructure built for the Rio 2007 Pan American Games and will also get additional sports centers,” he said.

Maggi is already betting on the gains for future generations and that sport will continue to develop in the country. “The Olympic Games would further boost Brazilian sport. We have already demonstrated that we can stage large international events and that we have valuable human talent,” she said. During the ceremony, a video was shown in which the public could learn about the improvements that took place in Barcelona and Sydney after they hosted the Olympic Games.

The Adhemar Ferreira da Silva Award is offered to ex-athletes who symbolize the values of Brazil’s first Olympic two-time medal winner. This year, it was awarded to João Havelange, the ex-president of FIFA and a member of the IOC. He was moved by the tribute and emphasized the importance of staging the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. “Emotion is getting the better of me. I am 92 and believe I can still serve my country, especially in helping Rio de Janeiro’s bid to host the 2016 Olympic Games. Perhaps I am being somewhat selfish because I will be 100 in 2016 and it would be the icing on the cake for me,” quipped Havelange.

During the ceremony, Brazil’s record participation in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games was highlighted. It was the country’s largest delegation ever, with 277 athletes competing in 32 sports events. The Brazilian athletes took part in 41 Olympic finals, an increase of 36% in relation to the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.

The Beijing Games were the stage of new conquests for Brazil. Cielo took gold in the 50m freestyle, the first Brazilian to do so, and Maggi’s gold in the long jump was the first victory by a Brazilian woman in an individual sport.