On the day that it was predicted that Brazil would achieve a record medal haul at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, the Brazilian Olympic Committee (COB) launched a photographic book celebrating its centenary. ‘Brazilian Olympic Committee: 100 years’ was the focus of a special event at the headquarters of the Rio 2016 Organising Committee, held as part of the 500 days until the Olympic Games celebrations on Tuesday (March 24) night.

“In paying tribute to 100 years of COB, we have produced a book that depicts memorable victories in Brazilian sport, magic moments of achievement, excitement and glory for our athletes,” said Carlos Nuzman, President of both COB and Rio 2016.

The book tells the story of South America’s first National Olympic Committee (NOC), from its inception on 8 June 1914 through to the London 2012 Olympic Games, when its athletes won 17 medals (three gold, five silver, nine bronze) – their best yet performance. On its first appearance in the Olympic Games, in Antwerp in 1920, Brazil won three shooting medals, and in total Brazilian Olympians have claimed 108 medals (23 gold, 30 silver and 55 bronze).

Giovane Gavio points himself out in a photo of Brazil’s 1992 Olympic volleyball champions (Photo: Rio 2016/Alex Ferro)

Only 3,000 copies of the 320-page ‘Brazilian Olympic Committee: 100 years’ will be printed, although copies will be distributed to public libraries in the city of Rio de Janeiro.

The book launch was attended by a host of current and retired Brazilian athletes, such as beach volleyball players Emanuel Rego, Evandro Junior, Juliana Felisberta, Maria Elisa Antonelli, Adriana Samuel and Pedro Cunha, volleyball players Giovane Gavio, Marcus Vinícius Freire and Bernard Razjman, handball player Duda Amorim, judoka Rafaela Silva and rower Fabiana Beltrame.

Gustavo Borges, the retired swimmer who won four Olympic medals (two silver and two bronze) said: “This book is an important part of the history of Brazilian sport. For the athletes who played their part in the country’s Olympic history, it’s a great recognition and a great honour to be in this book, in these beautiful photos. Launching it on the day we celebrate 500 days until the Rio Games is perfect.”

Also present were the presidents of the Brazilian Olympic Federations, as well as government representatives including Sport Minister George Hilton, Rio de Janeiro State Governor Luiz Fernando Pesão and City Mayor Eduardo Paes.