Host City of the Rio 2016™ Olympic Games, the Marvellous City celebrated this Friday, 1st March, 448 years since its official foundation. To blow the candles, some of Brazil’s greatest athletes and young promises in sport embraced the Rio 2016™ official website idea and sent dozens of photos with Rio de Janeiro and Sport as their theme.

Apart from the photos, the athletes answered the following question: What is the city that you would like to show our visitors in 2016? Below you can read some of their answers:

Pelé – Football. “A Rio of peace, without prejudice, and the warmest people in the world.”

Thiago Pereira – Swimming. “Rio the Janeiro is known all over the world. The Olympic Games celebration will certainly help the place gain more credibility and foreigners will increasingly see the city and the country as a tourist destination. I would appreciate if my friends abroad, especially the swimmers, saw Rio de Janeiro and Brazil as up-and-coming places that are ready to welcome all delegations with open arms. Our Olympic Games edition will be unlike any other. Each country stages its edition according to its own characteristics. Brazilians and cariocas are party people and they know how to host visitors. That’s the reason why we will have a unique party full of joy like only Brazilians can organise.”

Hugo Calderano – Table Tennis Revelation. “In 2016, I would like to be able to show our visitors, apart from the natural beauty that everybody knows already, a safe, clean, organised and even more marvellous city.”

Andressa Mendes – Diving Revelation. “I would like to show a different Rio de Janeiro, a humble Rio de Janeiro, where everybody respects everybody else.”

Martine Grael – Sailing. “I would like to show a welcoming and educated city.”

Fernanda Decnop – Sailing. “I would like to show our visitors Rio de Janeiro from a sailor’s point of view, with its unique natural beauty like the gentle sea waves under the refreshing winds and the forest covered hills with their waterfalls and lakes at their feet. Beaches covered with colourful sunshades where the joyful and welcoming carioca people rest, with the colours of Brazil. A landscape embraced by one of the World’s Seven Wonders, Christ the Redeemer!”

Lara Teixeira – Synchronised Swimming. “I would like to show a very welcoming Rio de Janeiro to the visitors.”

Patrícia Kock – Track and Field Revelation. “I would like to show an impeccable city. Comfortable hotels and competition sites, flowing traffic and clean beaches. A Rio de Janeiro that inspires us all, with examples of ethical and welcoming citizens. A Rio that stays in everyone’s memories as: the Marvellous City.”

Victoria Tiburcio – Judo Revelation. “I would like to show our beautiful Sugar Loaf. There is nothing similar in the world.”

Thiago Sens – Volleyball. “The Rio de Janeiro that I would like to show our visitors is a wonderful, charming place. One that makes people who were born here proud and delights everyone.”

Hugo Parisi – Diving. “Well, before anything else, I’m a visitor as well because I live in Brasilia. But I would like everybody to say good things about the city and Brazil. I want everybody to see the beauty of our culture and they should also learn the meaning of ‘saudade’ because that is what they will feel when they leave.”

Sandra Pires – Beach Volley. “Brazilian people’s best assets: affection and human warmth.”

Ricardo Winicki, Bimba – Sailing. “In 2016, I would like to show the visitors a clean Guanabara Bay.”

Fabiana Murer – Track and Field. “I would like to show the visitors a city that is alive and takes part in the great competitions, encouraging all its athletes.”

Isabel Clark – Snowboard. “Although I love to play Beach Tennis, I also love to walk through Rio de Janeiro’s mountain paths, particularly at weekends when the beach is too crowded. It’s a different, healthy panorama that is in contact with nature and often offers astonishing city views. Our visitors will have unforgettable experiences!”

Sabine Heitling – Track and Field. “The Rio I would like to show is a happy, safe Rio that embraces sports while cheering for all, no matter the colour of the flag.”