Rio 2016 to celebrate the arrival of 2009
The countdown to the New Year will be projected onto the big wheel, which is being sponsored by the Rio 2016 bid
From 2 January, residents of Rio de Janeiro and tourists will have a privileged view of the marvellous city with the inauguration of the Rio 2016 Wheel, at the Copacabana Fort. On New Years Eve, approximately two million people on one of the most famous beaches in the world will accompany the official countdown to the New Year as it is projected onto the big wheel.
The public opening of the wheel is exactly nine months from 2 October, when the International Olympic Committee (IOC) will announce the Host City of the 2016 Olympic Games. The attraction is one of the symbols of the desire to host the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games. It is expected that 200,000 people will visit the wheel by 1 March, which is its last day of operation and also the citys anniversary. This is the second year in which the big wheel will be in use.
The president of the Rio 2016 Committee, Carlos Arthur Nuzman, believes that the Rio 2016 Wheel will promote the ideals of the bid throughout Brazil and the world. The countdown on the Rio 2016 Wheel will be the landmark for the passage from 2008 to 2009. The landmark of a bid filled with passion, energy and the will to win. Rio de Janeiro merits to host the 2016 Olympic Games, confirmed Nuzman.
When visiting the wheel, the public will learn about the projects of the Rio 2016 bid. To enter the wheel, visitors will pass through the Rio 2016 Tent a tunnel that will be full of information about the bid. The Rio 2016 Square will provide objective information about the projects. Starting at 23:00hrs, images of the city and other images associated with sport will be projected onto the wheel.
The big wheel is 36 meters high, weighs 80 tons and has 24 gondolas with a capacity for 144 people. Each cabin holds six people and one is adapted for people with disabilities. The ride lasts three minutes on average. An area of seven thousand square meters alongside the attraction will also contain various attractions for the public to enjoy one of the most beautiful sights in Brazil and relax at the same time. A container similar to the one that will take the Candidature File to the International Olympic Committee will be placed in the area to allow visitors leave their messages of support to the bid.
The governor of Rio de Janeiro, Sérgio Cabral, believes that the big wheel will bring luck to the bid. This is the lucky wheel of the Rio 2016 campaign and will bless our victory, said the Governor Sérgio Cabral. He has asked the organizers of the event to keep the Rio 2016 Wheel until the visit of the Evaluation Commission of the International Olympic Committee, in April 2009.
The Rio 2016 Wheel is an event promoted by the Dream Factory in partnership with the Rio 2016 Bid Committee, the Federal Government and the State Government. Tickets may be purchased at the ticket office in Fort Copacabana or in advance at http://www.ticketronic.com.br.
