The New Year began with an intense focus on Rio de Janeiro’s bid to host the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The 36 meter tall Rio 2016 themed Ferris wheel located at Copacabana Fort officially opened today and is being used to promote Rio’s candidacy for the Games. Rio’s new mayor, Eduardo Paes, also took advantage of the first day of his term to sign over a package of guarantees to support the staging of the Olympic Games, should the city be selected by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on 2 October 2009.

It was obvious from the beginning that the Rio 2016 Wheel will be a great summer success and has already attracted dozens of Brazilian and foreign visitors.  At the opening, the 24 gondolas were occupied by guests, journalists and dignitaries, such as Luiz Barretto, the Minister of Tourism; Carlos Arthur Nuzman, the Secretary General of Rio 2016; Carlos Roberto Osório, the State Secretary of Sports, Tourism, and Leisure; and Ruy Cezar, the city government’s Rio 2016 Secretary.  “The Rio 2016 Wheel will be one of the icons of the campaign.  The union of the three government levels, the sport confederations and the Brazilian people gives us an advantage in this race.  There is no better place to celebrate the Olympic Games,” said Carlos Arthur Nuzman.

For the Minister of Tourism, Luiz Barretto, the Rio 2016 Bid will be a window to other opportunities. “Other cities in the world have been transformed by the Olympic Games. Rio de Janeiro has always been the gateway for visitors to Brazil, and the staging of the 2016 Olympic Games would solidify the city’s role,” he said.

Beyond the inauguration of the Rio 2016 Wheel, there was another important event for the Rio de Janeiro bid. The city mayor, Eduardo Paes, approved a series of measures which will be adopted should the city be chosen to host the Olympic Games by the IOC. One specifically addresses and prohibits the unauthorized use of symbols associated with the Olympic Games. He also signed all of the municipal guarantees required by the IOC.

Within this package of measures introduced by the mayor, is one which creates a working group to organize the city for the IOC Evaluation Commission’s visit between 27 April and 3 May of this year.  “The Rio 2016 Bid is a priority for the city.  On the first day of the new city administration, Rio de Janeiro proudly offers all of the guarantees for the undertaking of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in the ‘Marvelous City’ to the IOC,” said Eduardo Paes.