The Rio de Janeiro bid to host the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games has won the support of an Olympic champion. New Zealander Valerie Vili, shot put gold medalist at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, fell in love with the city after taking part in the Rio GP in May.  Valerie believes that an edition of the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro would be a unique experience for athletes from around the globe.

To win the gold in the Rio GP Vili set a new area record in the competition with a throw of 20.69 meters. Vili praised the João Havelange Stadium, built for the Pan American Games Rio 2007 and one of the venues in the Rio 2016 project. "It's a great stadium with a wonderful atmosphere. It is perfect for athlete’s to find that little extra in their performance. Rio de Janeiro is a colorful city with wonderful people. An edition of the Olympic Games in a place like this would be a wonderful experience for athletes from around the world, "said Vili.

As well as the Rio GP, Vili took part in the Belém GP.  Her impressions of taking part in Brazilian events have been highlighted in the blog she writes for the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) website. “My trip to Brazil was a fantastic success!  My expectations were totally blown away and the whole experience was terrific. The organizers were wonderful and really took care of me. Rio de Janeiro was my first stop and I fell in love with the heat as soon as I arrived," said Valerie, who also took away happy memories of visiting Christ the Redeemer and Brazilian fruit, particularly mango.