The theme of “integration” dominated the first visit of Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff to the Rio 2016 Organising Committee.

In Rio de Janeiro for a series of meetings with the city government, the president took stock of the progress of the Olympic project in the company of the governor of the state of Rio de Janeiro, Luiz Fernando Pezão; the mayor of the city, Eduardo Paes; and the president of the Rio 2016 Committee, Carlos Arthur Nuzman. After the meetings, Dilma reiterated the federal government’s commitment to ensuring the success of the first Olympic Games to be held in South America.

“We have had very productive discussions,” she said. “I have promised president Nuzman that I will come here systematically over the next few months for further meetings. We need to integrate yet further the activities of the federal government with those of the state and municipal authorities.”

For the president, the Olympic and Paralympic Games will provide an opportunity to showcase Brazil to the rest of the world.

“The Olympic Games have a hugely important role. These events give us the chance to demonstrate this country’s organisational capacity. I am sure that Brazil will host a perfect Games.”

President Dilma Rousseff visited the the laboratory which will process the results of the Olympic events at the Rio 2016 Games (Photo: Alex Ferro/Rio 2016)

Questioned over the next phase of the project, the president was enthusiastic.

“When you are dealing with a project of this magnitude, every day there will be new problems to solve. Organising the Olympics is like practicing a sport; you have to face challenges, work to overcome those challenges and strive towards victory,” she said.

Before the meeting, Dilma toured the headquarters of the Committee, including the Integration Testing Laboratory, and met the Games’ mascots, Vinicius and Tom.

The president toured the Rio 2016 Organising Committee headquarters and met some of its staff (Photo: Alex Ferro / Rio 2016)

Visibly thinner, the president took advantage of her visit to launch a new campaign to promote healthy eating and exercise.

“Physical activity improves health outcomes and quality of life, not to mention that no-one charges you to walk! I am launching a campaign here so that people improve their health. I have improved my own. No exercise regime is easy, you have to shut your mouth and do some work,” she joked.