Photo: RioTur
Today, a typical sunny carioca day, an ecumenical service was held to celebrate Rio de Janeiros bid for the 2016 Olympic Games. Government leaders, sportspeople, artists and members of different sections of carioca society attended the event, which took place at one of the worlds most beautiful locations, the statue of Christ the Redeemer, on Corcovado Mountain. It was facing the statue, one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World, that the city was blessed in this, the decisive week before the decision of 2 October, when the Host City of the 2016 Olympic Games will be announced. Rio de Janeiro is competing against Chicago, Madrid and Tokyo.
The Archbishop of Rio de Janeiro, Dom Orani João Tempesta, led the event, which was attended by sports minister Orlando Silva, cities minister Marcio Fortes and social equality minister Edson Santos. Governor Sergio Cabral and Mayor Eduardo Paes were also present at the event, before leaving for Copenhagen, to join the team spearheading Rios bid at the International Olympic Committee meeting. Carlos Luiz Martins, Rio 2016s operations superintendent, was also present. Olympic medalists including Jackie Silva (beach volleyball) and Virna (volleyball), as well as Paulo Villas Boas, former basketball athlete, and Soraya Carvalho, ex-gymnast, also attended the ceremony. The event closed to the sound of Samba do Avião, a classic song by Tom Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes, to the delight of the artists present, such as samba musician Martinho da Vila and other traditional sambistas from Mangueira and Salgueiro.
Rio de Janeiro offers many qualities to host the worlds greatest sports event. The support and alignment of the three levels of government (federal, state and municipal), one of the strong points of the bid, was evident during the ceremony. Rio de Janeiro is ready. Theres no more enchanting place than here. Unfortunately the election isnt taking place here, because with this stunning landscape we wouldnt be able to lose. Everything that had to be done to present a strong project has been done. Now its time to let the inspiration of Christ the Redeemer lead our bid to victory, said Orlando Silva.
The unity of government authorities, led by President Lula, is a fundamental factor to the success of our project, said Governor Cabral. The Olympic Games is the greatest event in the world and it will bring many improvements to the city, legacies both subjective and concrete, but above all the Games will improve peoples lives. Lets all root for the bid, because we can stage the best Olympic Games in history, here in Rio de Janeiro.
Mayor Paes talked about the welcoming spirit of cariocas. Here on Corcovado, which receives countless tourists throughout the year, its clear that cariocas know how to welcome its visitors like no one else. This is one of the main pillars of the Olympic Movement, the meeting of peoples. Rio is perfect for that.
Carlos Luiz Martins, representing Rio 2016s president, Carlos Arthur Nuzman, spoke on behalf of the bid committee. The Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro will transform the city and bring development not just to the city, but also to the state and country, he declared.
The Archbishop of Rio de Janeiro, Dom Orani João Tempesta, led the event, which was attended by sports minister Orlando Silva, cities minister Marcio Fortes and social equality minister Edson Santos. Governor Sergio Cabral and Mayor Eduardo Paes were also present at the event, before leaving for Copenhagen, to join the team spearheading Rios bid at the International Olympic Committee meeting. Carlos Luiz Martins, Rio 2016s operations superintendent, was also present. Olympic medalists including Jackie Silva (beach volleyball) and Virna (volleyball), as well as Paulo Villas Boas, former basketball athlete, and Soraya Carvalho, ex-gymnast, also attended the ceremony. The event closed to the sound of Samba do Avião, a classic song by Tom Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes, to the delight of the artists present, such as samba musician Martinho da Vila and other traditional sambistas from Mangueira and Salgueiro.
Rio de Janeiro offers many qualities to host the worlds greatest sports event. The support and alignment of the three levels of government (federal, state and municipal), one of the strong points of the bid, was evident during the ceremony. Rio de Janeiro is ready. Theres no more enchanting place than here. Unfortunately the election isnt taking place here, because with this stunning landscape we wouldnt be able to lose. Everything that had to be done to present a strong project has been done. Now its time to let the inspiration of Christ the Redeemer lead our bid to victory, said Orlando Silva.
The unity of government authorities, led by President Lula, is a fundamental factor to the success of our project, said Governor Cabral. The Olympic Games is the greatest event in the world and it will bring many improvements to the city, legacies both subjective and concrete, but above all the Games will improve peoples lives. Lets all root for the bid, because we can stage the best Olympic Games in history, here in Rio de Janeiro.
Mayor Paes talked about the welcoming spirit of cariocas. Here on Corcovado, which receives countless tourists throughout the year, its clear that cariocas know how to welcome its visitors like no one else. This is one of the main pillars of the Olympic Movement, the meeting of peoples. Rio is perfect for that.
Carlos Luiz Martins, representing Rio 2016s president, Carlos Arthur Nuzman, spoke on behalf of the bid committee. The Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro will transform the city and bring development not just to the city, but also to the state and country, he declared.
