Rio de Janeiro is set to gain a new monument to celebrate its choice as host city for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Mayor Eduardo Paes today announced that an international competition will be held to choose the monument, which will represent the Olympic spirit and the city residents’ passion for sport.

The competition launch took place at the Palácio da Cidade and was attended by municipal secretary for urban works, Sérgio Dias, Rio 2016 secretary general, Carlos Roberto Osório, and the president of the Brazilian Institute of Architects (IAB), Dayse Góis. “The decisions taken over the next few months will be very important, as they will determine the foundations of the best possible legacy for the city,” said Eduardo Paes. “We want to maximize the benefits from Rio de Janeiro’s selection. This monument will be a new symbol, an icon for the Olympic city.”

Over the next ten days, the IAB will establish the contest’s rules and the schedule for issuing the bid documents and submitting proposals. The competition will be open to architects from Brazil and abroad. Work on building the new monument will begin in 2010. “Brazilian architects are very happy about Rio’s victory,” said Dayse Góis. “The IAB accompanied the preparation of the Rio 2016 candidature file and knows that this project is of unique importance to the city. Rio de Janeiro deserves the best.”

According to Carlos Roberto Osório, the monument will be a lasting reminder of the award of the Olympic Games to Rio. “The Olympic monument will become another tourist attraction for the city and an international symbol of Rio de Janeiro. It will symbolize the unity between the city, sport and the Olympic Movement,” he said.