Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known as Pelé, arrived this afternoon in Copenhagen to support Rio’s bid to host the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Pelé, the first ambassador for the Brazilian bid, is here to lead the team of 15 athletes who will participate in the last week of the bid in the Danish capital.

Pelé caused quite a stir as he left Copenhagen airport, posing for photographs and autographing children’s t-shirts. He said he was happy and confident about the work performed by the Rio 2016 committee. “I only play in winning teams,” he declared. “I just came from the United States and, talking with people there, there’s the feeling Brazil has a great chance. South America has never had the Olympics. There are 500 million people waiting for this opportunity.”

By Thursday, the following Brazilian athletes will be in Copenhagen:

- Adriana Behar, Olympic medalist in beach volleyball (silver at Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004)

- Bernard Rajzman, Olympic medalist in volleyball (silver at Los Angeles 84)

- Cesar Cielo, Olympic medalist in swimming (gold in 50m freestyle and bronze in100m freestyle at Beijing 2008)

- Daiane dos Santos, Olympic athlete (Athens 2004, Beijing 2008), gold in 2003 World Gymnastics Championships)

- Daniel Dias, winner of nine Paralympic medals (four golds, four silvers and one bronze at Beijing 2008)

- Edson Arantes do Nascimento (Pelé), elected the Athlete of the Century by the IOC and a member of three winning FIFA World Cup teams

- Gustavo Kuerten (Guga), Olympic athlete (Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004), and winner of three Grand Slam titles at Roland Garros (1997, 2000 and 2001)

- Hortencia Marcari, Olympic medalist in basketball (silver at Atlanta 1996)

- Isabel Swan, Olympic medalist in sailing (bronze at Beijing 2008)

- Janeth Arcain, Olympic medalist in basketball (silver at Atlanta 1996 and bronze at Sydney 2000)

- Roseane Ferreira dos Santos, Paralympic medalist in athletics (two golds at Sydney 2000)

- Torben Grael, Olympic medalist in sailing (gold at Atlanta 1996 and Athens 2004, silver at Los Angeles 1984, and bronze at Seoul 1988 and Sydney 2000)

Completing the athletes’ team are three young people who represent the future of Brazilian sport and the power of transformation and social inclusion through sport: Bárbara Leôncio, who won gold in the 200m at the 2007 IAAF World Youth Athletics Championships in Ostrava, Paula Andressa Dias Clementino (athletics), and Vitor Hugo Silva Mourao dos Santos (judo). Carlos Alberto Parreira, who coached Brazil to World Cup triumph in 1994, will also be in Copenhagen to lend his support to Rio 2016.

The team of 15 athletes is part of Rio 2016’s official delegation, which is composed of 60 (sixty) people, as established by the International Olympic Committee for all Candidate Cities. In addition to sport, the delegate includes representatives of the three branches of the Brazilian state (executive, legislature and judiciary) and different parts of society, with the aim of reaffirming to IOC members Brazil’s complete support and institutional guarantees presented during the course of the bid.
Rio de Janeiro is competing to host the Olympic Games against Chicago, Madrid and Tokyo. The Host City will be chosen on 2 October during the 121th IOC Session in Copenhagen.