Despite having just landed after a 20-hour journey from Kuala Lumpur, Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee, did not seem in the slightest bit jaded as he played football, volleyball and rugby on Barra da Tijuca beach in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday (4 August) afternoon. The only surprise was that the German missed one of the penalties that he took. But then he was up against Gilmar Rinaldi, a World Cup-winning goalkeeper who is now the Brazilian Football Federation’s technical director.

“My pleasure in these activities is much more than my ability,” joked the man who won a fencing gold medal at the Montreal 1976 Olympic Games. He has come to Brazil from Malaysia, where he led the IOC Session, to attend the official ceremony to mark one year until the Rio 2016 Olympics Games, on Wednesday (5 August).

Bach, who was lifted up high by rugby players, in the style of a line-out, spoke with a host of current and former Olympians from Brazil, some of whom are involved in organising the Rio 2016 Games. “You’ve been doing a great job for some years,” he said. “I’m sure that one year from now everyone will be enchanted by the passion of the Brazilian people, as well as the efficiency of Brazil.”

Among those present were Bernard Rajzman (volleyball),  Ketleyn Quadros (judo), Adrianinha (basketball), Fofão (volleyball), Hugo Hoyama (table tennis), Leandro Guilheiro (judo), Carlos Honorato (judo) and Giovane Gávio (volleyball). Bach chatted and heard about preparations for next year’s Games. “He was very sincere and positive, although in a relaxed manner,” said Adrianinha.

After the IOC chief was presented with a personalised Brazil shirt, he cooled off with a paddle in the sea as a beautiful sunset unfolded, and spoke of his faith in the Rio 2016 Games. “There will be a Rio de Janeiro before the Olympic Games and a Rio de Janeiro, better, after the Olympic Games,” he said