Athletes and officials at the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games will be in good hands if they need medical treatment.  As of Tuesday 12 (July), the Americas Medical City complex in Barra da Tijuca is the official hospital and medical centre for the Games.

The largest medical complex in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Americas Medical City consists of two hospitals plus a medical centre with 252 consultation rooms. It began operating in October 2015.

The complex is located close to Barra Olympic Park and the Olympic Village, which during peak-time will be home to more than 17,000 athletes and officials.

The agreement between Americas Medical City and Rio 2016 was initially struck in January 2015. "It is an honour to be part of the Olympic and Paralympic Games," executive director Marcus Vinicius dos Santos said. "We are ready to respond to a great variety of situations, but what we really hope is that nobody will need our assistance."

Carlos Nuzman, president of the organising committee for the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and Rio 2016 chief medical officer João Grangeiro were both present at the ceremony on Tuesday.

Two other VIPs at the event were Olympic mascot Vinicius and his Paralympic buddy Tom, who helped lighten up the day for some of the children being treated at the centre.

Olympic mascot Vinicius (left) and Paralympic mascot Tom (right) handed out the official Rio 2016 sticker albums at the hospital (Photo: Rio 2016/Paulo Múmia)