Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has arrived in Copenhagen for the election of host city for the 2016 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, to be held on Friday, 2 October. Lula will be part of the Rio de Janeiro delegation, which could become the first South America city in to hold the sporting event.

Arriving at the airport, at 5pm on Wednesday, April 30, Lula was welcomed at by a gathering of Brazilian athletes and former athletes and was presented with the official uniform shirt of the delegation by Pele. Also present were Bernard (volleyball), Cesar Cielo (swimming), Daiane dos Santos (gymnastics), Daniel Dias (Paralympic swimming), Hydrangea (basketball), Elizabeth Swan (sailing), Janeth (basketball) and Torben Grael (sailing) and young athletes Barbara Leoncio (Athletics), Paula Andressa Dias Clementino (judo) and Victor Hugo dos Santos Silva Mourao (athletics).

"There is an atmosphere of a major election here. I am very optimistic and believe in Rio de Janeiro’s victory. The Federal Government is in Copenhagen to reiterate all guarantees presented to the International Olympic Committee. The 2016 Olympic Games are very important for Rio de Janeiro and Brazil," said President Lula.