Rio de Janeiro’s bid to host the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games plans to provide the city’s people and the whole of Brazil and South America with a legacy that goes beyond the duration of the events. Indeed, the Games in Rio would be an opportunity to speed up the transformation of Rio into an even greater global city and as a world-class sports hub to train athletes from around the world in superb conditions and facilities.

This goal was reaffirmed yesterday, when the Brazilian Olympic Committee (COB) and the State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ) signed an agreement to conduct studies to promote the scientific, educational and social development of Brazilian sport. The event was attended by the president of Rio 2016 and COB, Carlos Arthur Nuzman, the Governor of Rio de Janeiro, Sérgio Cabral Filho, and the rector of UERJ, Ricardo Vieiralves de Castro, in addition to current and former athletes.

UERJ and COB will work together to develop a wide range of academic courses whose objective will be to provide quality education in a wide range of sports-related areas. UERJ’s research centers will also be used as a resource for sports science.

“This accord will provide a significant legacy in training,” explained Cabral. “This initiative further illustrates to the international community our vision for the Rio 2016 Games, one that is closely linked to the wider long-term planning strategy of the city and country. We are not only bidding to host Olympic and Paralympic competitions during the Games, we are aiming for lasting legacies that will deliver new infrastructure, new environmental, physical and social initiatives and improved benefits and opportunities for all. That is why this agreement is so important.”

The implementation of the accord will involve activities in areas such as Physical Education, Sports Science, Sports Administration, Sociology, Sports Law, Sports Medicine and Psychology Applied to Sport. The program will be an important tool for athletes, providing them with options when they choose to stop competing. Another goal is to educate a new generation of coaches who can contribute towards the development of elite sport in Brazil.

“We have opened a door that will enable many people to qualify to work for Brazilian sport. This is an important day in the history of sport in Latin America. Rio de Janeiro is one of the Candidate Cities to host the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games and this agreement demonstrates our commitment to the development of sport in Brazil and across South America,” said Nuzman.

This model of bringing together sports and academia has already been adopted to great success by the world’s great Olympic powerhouses. COB’s initiative will take place through the Brazilian Olympic Institute, a leading Brazilian center in academic studies and diffusion of knowledge in sports science and Olympism. The institute’s objective is to promote the exchange and spread of knowledge through courses, seminars, conferences and other academic and scientific events.