“There is no doubt that the excellent work carried out during Rio 2007 is a plus for Rio’s bid to host the 2016 Olympic Games.  The Olympic standard of the Pan American Games Rio 2007 proves an impeccable organization, which places Rio de Janeiro at the same level as the world’s strongest cities in Olympic terms.”  So said this Thursday, March 13, Ramon Zubizarreta, president of the Paraguayan Olympic Committee and member of the Coordination Commission of the Pan American Sports Organization (ODEPA), who is in Rio de Janeiro representing the Mexican Mario Vazquez Raña, president of the entity, in the Rio 2007 Knowledge Transfer Seminar, internationally known as Debriefing.

Until Saturday, last day of the event, the Seminar will be dedicated to representatives of Organizing Committees of Multisports Events in the Americas.  One of the participants is Horácio de La Veja Flores, Director of the XVI Pan American Games Guadalajara 2011.  The Rio 2007 Debriefing was also attended by representatives of the Organizing Committees of the Central American and Caribbean Games Mayagüez 2010 (Puerto Rico), South American Games Medellín 2010 (Colombia), Bolivarianos Sucre Games 2009 (Bolivia) and Commonwealth Games New Delhi 2010 (India).  Their objective is to collect information and experiences from Rio 2007 and put the learning into practice in their respective countries.

“The daily routine of the Organizing Committee of a big event is hectic and difficult and our great virtue was to be able to overcome obstacles.  This was the main reason for the success of Rio 2007,” evaluated Carlos Arthur Nuzman, president of the Rio 2007 Organizing Committee (CO-RIO).  “Before the Pan American Games, Rio was seen as a city with potential to grow in several sectors.  After the Rio 2007, its capacity to organize and carry out big events had been proved,” he concluded, exalting the importance of the Debriefing to convey the experiences acquired.

The greater and greater qualification required to carry out big competitions is another highlight in the Rio 2007 organization.  According to Ramón Zubizarreta, who visited the city several times before the Games, the work carried out in Rio de Janeiro was exemplary.  “The participants in this Debriefing will have the chance to receive knowledge from those who carried out the greatest and best edition in the history of the Pan American Games,” he stated.