The selecting process for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games brand ended this Thursday 2nd. At the decisive phase, the Judging Commission chosen one among the eight proposals presented by the finalist agencies. The image will be sent to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for validation, to guarantee that the brand and all its elements can be registered and protected worldwide. The presentation of the Rio 2016 Games brand and the name of the winning agency will be done on December 31st, at the Copacabana beach New Year’s party. Besides international recognition, the Rio 2016 Olympic Games brand will be exposed for the next six years and will be eternized in the future Rio 2016 Games images, broadcasted to billions of spectators all over the world. “We have concluded a historic process of the Rio 2016 Games. The Judging Commission worked with professionalism, enthusiasm and dedication. I am sure the brand will be accepted by all and will carry an aura of success”, said Carlos Arthur Nuzman, Rio 2016 Committee president. Eight agencies got to the final phase of the selecting process. The agencies Brainbox Design (PR), Dupla Design (RJ), Future Brand (SP), Gad Design (SP), Soter Design (RJ), Studio Lúmen (PR), Tátil Design (RJ) and Vinte Zero Um (RJ) received a compensation of R$ 10 thousand, besides a participation certificate as homage for taking part in contributing to the selecting process. The winning agency will receive an additional R$ 40 thousand for the creation of the brand and will sign a six month contract, with the possibility of renewal with the Rio 2016 Committee for design services. The Judging Commission was made up of 12 members recognized on national and international levels, as stated in the Public Notice. The members were selected by the Rio 2016 Organizing Committee by their experience in the creation and approval of brands programs and for their distinction in the International Olympic Movement. Concept, Originality, Criativity and Applicability were evaluated. “It was an incredible process. We had total trust in the creative capacity of the Brazilian design and reached a result that will be a reason of pride to all of us”, stated Leonardo Gryner, Rio 2016 CEO. The new Rio 2016 brand, which will guide the Games visual communication in the next six years, will become an object of desire for thousands of people around the world. “We got to the end of a rich and transparent process being certain we left a legacy for the Brazilian design. The brand carries the passion and transformation that are the essence of the Rio 2016 Games”, explained Beth Lula, Rio 2016 Committee brands manager. THE SELECTING PROCESS The process for selecting the responsible company for creating the Rio 2016 brand started in April, when 139 companies registered to participate in the initial briefing. Eighty-six out of those presented the requested technical habilitation and qualifying documentation on the second phase. After the analysis from the Rio 2016 Committee team, 24 were selected for the individual interviews, which defined the eight finalist agencies. In the beginning of August, the finalists presented their brands. Since none of them reached the minimum mark of 96 points, the agencies went through a new round of work to adjust their proposals evaluated by the Judging Commission. This phase had already been previewed in the Public Notice of the selecting process (paragraph 5.5.10 of the Public Notice). On August 10th, during audio recorded individual interviews, the Rio 2016 Commission went through the technical considerations made by the members of the Judging Commission. After the interviews, the agencies had up to August 27th to present new proposals or made the adjustments to the presented brands.