Thomas Bach, the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), has praised the commitment shown by Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff to ensuring the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games are a success. During a meeting in Brasília on Friday (11 July), Rousseff confirmed that, with the FIFA World Cup coming to an end on Sunday, the Rio 2016 Games would be the government’s top priority from Monday. 

“I was pleased to hear the confidence President Rousseff has in the Games and what they will deliver, and it was good to hear that the Games and their legacy will be a top priority,” said Bach, who discussed with Rousseff the positive social, economic and sporting legacy the Games will deliver, including the Olympic Training Centre and the Rio 2016 education programme.

Two days before the final of the football World Cup, Bach also praised the organisation of the tournament, saying “Brazil and Brazilians can be proud,” before adding that the Rio 2016 Games would benefit from the “passion and efficiency” of the Brazilian people.

On Thursday, Bach had visited the site of the Olympic and Paralympic Village in Barra da Tijuca, and declared himself impressed by the progress being in made. “It was incredible to see that 40 per cent of the Olympic Village is ready. Visiting the Barra area yesterday, I was very pleased to see that the Olympic Games project is taking shape.”

Following the meeting in Brasília, Bach returned to Rio to meet with Mayor Eduardo Paes and State Governor Luiz Fernando Pezão. During his time in Brazil, Bach has been accompanied by IOC Coordination Commission Chair Nawal El Moutawakel, Rio 2016 President Carlos Nuzman, Rio 2016 CEO Sidney Levy and Brazilian IOC member Bernard Rajzman.