The Rio de Janeiro Candidature Commission for the Olympic and Paralympic Games of 2016 shall make its third official presentation on Friday, 21st November, at the General Assembly meeting of the European Olympic Committees. Held in Istanbul, Turkey, this meeting is being attended by representatives of 49 countries. The former Rio 2016 project presentations took place in October at the General Assembly meetings of the Olympic Committees of the Americas and the Olympic Council of Asia.

The other three candidate cities – Chicago, Tokyo and Madrid – also have 15 minutes in which to put their ideas forward. “We will show the attending members how Rio de Janeiro has been preparing to host the Olympic Games over recent years, with the main example being the highly successful Rio 2007 Pan-American Games. The Brazilian people love sports and our project has much to offer the Olympic Movement”, declared Carlos Arthur Nuzman, President of the Rio 2016 Commission.

The presentation will include the special presence of ex-basketball player and double Olympic medallist, Janeth, (silver in Atlanta 96 and bronze in Sydney 2000), also world Champion in 1994 and the first South American to participate in the American women’s professional basketball league (WNBA). “This is an important presentation and I’m overjoyed to be able to contribute to this project. The Olympic Games represent a major change, not only for Rio de Janeiro, but for all Brazil”, says Janeth, who retired following the Rio 2007 Pan-American Games and currently runs a social programme using sport as a means for social inclusion for children between the ages of 7 and 15.

The General Secretary for the Rio 2016 Commission, Carlos Roberto Osório and the Governor of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Sérgio Cabral, will also participate in the presentation. “Here in Istanbul, our mission is to establish Rio de Janeiro as South America’s port of entry for the Olympic Movement. We want the Rio 2016 candidature to serve as inspiration for all developing countries”, stated Governor Sérgio Cabral.
Mayor-elect for Rio de Janeiro, Eduardo Paes, and the Ministry of Sports National Secretary, Djan Madruga, will also attend the General Assembly meeting of the European Olympic Committees.