The presidents of the National Olympic Committees of the fifteen countries members of ODESUR (Organizacíon Deportiva Sudamericana) signed on Monday afternoon (May 12) in Medellin, Colombia, during the 21st General Meeting of such entity, an unanimous proposition to support Rio de Janeiro’s Bid to host the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The South American countries consider the South American bid to host the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games is extremely important for the development of sports in the continent. According to the Secretary General of the Argentine Olympic Committee, Hernan Ferrari, “South America is a continent with a long tradition in Olympic sports. It is time for the Olympic Movement to reach South American sports and make us honoured to host the Olympic Games. The 2016 bid is a desire of all of us and it expresses the feeling of the whole continent."

The President of the Paraguayan Olympic Committee and ODESUR Treasurer, Ramon Zubizarreta, said that “the victory of Rio de Janeiro and, consequently, the novel staging of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in South America will contribute turn the Olympic Games into a truly universal event.”

Rio 2016 Project highlights the importance of using sports as a tool for social development, aligned to city’s agenda and the ideals of the Olympic Movement. The staging of Rio 2007 Pan American Games was an important step towards the Olympic dream and it represented a meaningful legacy in the South American sports. The president of the Olympic Committee of Guiana, M.K.A. Juman Yassin, declared: “the successful staging of Rio 2007 Pan American Games made me proude of being South American. From now on, our continent will be united to support Rio 2016 campaign aiming at fulfilling the collective dream of South American athletes: the Olympic Games in South America."

For the president of ODESUR, Brazilian Olympic Committee and Rio 2016 Bid Commission, Carlos Arthur Nuzman, “the alliance of ODESUR countries confirms the wish of the South American continent to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games, which will leave a legacy for the whole region.”