Less than one month before the Host City for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games is chosen, Rio de Janeiro experienced yet another weekend replete with sports competitions. Deodoro Sports Complex, built for the Rio 2007 Pan American Games and one of the Rio 2016 venues, hosted the Modern Pentathlon World Cup final. Yesterday, Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas received the Naval School Regatta, the most traditional rowing competition in the city. On the same day, the city’s downtown streets were transformed into a circuit for the national City Cycling Cup.

Held for the first time in South America, the Modern Pentathlon World Cup final attracted representatives of 20 countries to Deodoro Sports Complex. In the female event, Brazilian Yane Marques won silver with a total of 5,508 points; the best ever result for the country. The gold medal went to Donata Rimsaite, from Lithuania, with 5,548 points. “This is my first medal at a competition of this level, and so I’m very happy,” celebrated Yane, who represented Brazil at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and dreams of seeing the Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016. “I’m a big fan of the Rio 2016 bid. Hosting the Olympic Games will be exceptional for Brazil. It’s a competition that leaves important legacies for athletes and also for young people who are getting started in sport.”

The men’s champion, Hungarian Ádám Marosi, scored 6,056 points. He is also rooting for Rio 2016. “This is the second time I’ve participated in a competition in Rio. This is my favorite place in the world. I love the temperament of the people, I love Brazil. Holding the 2016 Olympics in this city would be the best thing for the Olympic Games. It’s a wonderful place,” said the Hungarian, who shared the podium with Ukrainian Pavlo Tymoshchenko (5,992 points) and Italian Federico Giancamilli (5,940 points).

At Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas, another venue in Rio’s Olympic plans, around 500 rowers competed in the 33rd Naval School Regatta. Besides the 16 races, the event featured music shows on the lake shore and children’s activities.

The bustling streets of downtown Rio attracted a different kind of crowd yesterday: cars and buses gave way to 100 cyclists competing in the City Cup. In the main category, the winners were Isael Nunes da Silva and Maíra Hendi. There were also races for Beginner, Master and Mountain Bike categories. “It’s great having a national competition in the city’s commercial and financial district,” said Anderson Cordeiro, one of the race participants.