The Rio de Janeiro major events schedule, whose pinnacle will be the Rio 2016™ Olympic and Paralympic Games, has seen its most special moments this month of June. The United Nations Conference of Sustainable Development, Rio+20, whose name alludes to  the historic 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, ECO 92, once again brings together over 100 heads of state and thousands of government dignitaries and the civil society from all over the globe to the Wonderful City. The seminars, panels, round tables and summit meetings share a purpose: to foster reflections on the present and the future of a fast-changing planet  and on how human beings influence these changes.

A major player in the building of this future, Rio 2016™ supports this discussion and puts forward its proposals. The Manager of Sustainability and Legacy, Tânia Braga, represented the Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in South America at the seminar “Accessibility at major events”, last Saturday, in one of the pavilions of the Athletes’ Park. The venue itself is symbolic, as it is projected to be  used also as a Games venue in four years

“Accessibility is not only for persons with disabilities. Accessibility is for all.  The concept of accessible Games involves celebrating diversity, the culture of inclusion, respect and equal opportunities for all. In this sense, yes, we do promote the rights of persons with disabilities and with the development of the Paralympic Movement, but that is not all. We all need accessibility somehow”, said Tânia, to an audience with representatives from the civil society – particularly grassroots movements – and local, state and federal governments, many of whom with disabilities themselves.

Tânia Braga also reminded that the concept of accessibility is broader than physical accessibility such as on ramps, adapted restrooms and other facilities. It encompasses access to information in a myriad of fashions as well as participation to all, these values being expressed in the commitments made by Rio 2016™ since Rio de Janeiro participated in the Olympic bid for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Rio 2016™ legacy on accessibility

During her presentation, Tânia Braga outlined some of the legacies projected by Rio 2016™: improved overall urban accessibility and Olympic and Paralympic venues accessibility infrastructure; sporting structures for persons with disabilities; indicators of the Rio 2016 OGI study on accessibility enabling assessment, monitoring and analysis; particularly, a new public perception in regard to the potential of persons with disabilities, as well as fostering self-esteem and creating opportunities to these people.

“Putting in place the International Organising Committee guidelines on accessibility  in alignment with the mandates of Brazilian laws on accessibility will ensure that we deliver an edition of the Games in the most accessible way to all. That is our pledge for the Olympic and the Paralympic Games”, said the manager.

Present at the seminar, the United Nations Meetings and Publishing Division Director, Mr. Magnus Olafsson, stated that Rio+20 is an example set to the next world events on accessibility. According to Mr. Olafsson, the “Brazilian model” will be used at the UN, which may be a trend to be adopted  at the next major event the city of Rio de Janeiro and Brazil will be hosting in the next years.

“The Rio+20 experience is utterly important for the challenges in store, actually  it has been a methodology test with excellent results. Here we not only discuss physical access, but also access to documents and meetings. In the past, such a lack of access was a major hindrance to participation. This is the first 100% accessible convention. We have got audio description services, real-time subtitles, sign language, braille, signage, an accessible website, adapted architecture and transportation for persons with disabilities and more. Accessibility is a human rights matter. And Rio+20 is an example to be followed by Brazil and the world”, affirmed the director.