The Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games Rio 2016™ observed details of the organisation of three important competitions that took place over the last ten days. Two competitions happened this past weekend, 27th-28th April, in the Olympic sports venues of Rio: the Maria Lenk Aquatic Centre, which will host Water Polo and the Rowing Stadium of the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon, which will host the Rowing, Canoeing (sprint) and Paracanoeing competitions.

The guided tour of the Lagoon was led by Bernardo Villano, Rio 2016™ Sport Group Manager Responsible for Rowing, and by Thomas Schwerdtner, Administrative Coordinator of the Brazilian Rowing Federation (CBR in Portuguese).

Professionals of the logistics, venues, transport, broadcast and sponsorship areas of Rio 2016™ participated in the visit, which took place last Friday the 26th, first day of the South American Rowing Championship, which gathered athletes from eight countries in the Olympic rowing course.

“Thomas spoke about the event details and went around the entire venue with us, even in places where the public doesn’t have access, like the areas where the boats are kept and weighed as well as the trailers parking lot. We were able to see the area where the temporary boat garage will be, in the heliport, in 2016. It was important to clarify questions and get to know the space”, Villano explained.

On Saturday, the Rio 2016™ Organising Committee was present at the Maria Lenk Aquatic Centre for the Maria Lenk Trophy (one of the most important swimming competitions in Brazil), which ended last weekend. Ricardo de Moura, Technical Superintendent of the Brazilian Confederation of Aquatic Sports (CBDA in Portuguese) and Walter Russo, Rio 2016™ Sport Group Manager Responsible for Swimming, led the guided visit.

Rio 2016™ Committee in the X-Games

Five members of the Committee participated as observers in the Foz do Iguaçu 2013 X-Games, the Brazilian edition of the world´s largest radical sports event, which took place 18th-21st April in the Infraero Park and the Iguaçu National Park, right in front of the Waterfall. Professionals from the venues, sport and transport areas got to know the organisation of the event and learn interesting information which might be used in the future.

“In the event’s temporary venues, we observed the different patterns of structures and the levels of service which the Brazilian market can offer, as well as the optimisation of the earthworks to hold these temporary structures”, explained architect Mariana Albuquerque.

In addition to Mariana, Lia Guerra (venues), Ian Simon (sport), Isabella Nogueira and Christopher Platts (both from the transport area) were in this city in the state of Paraná. Accompanying sport events, even those which have not been organised by the Rio 2016™ Committee, is an essential task. In May, sport events like the King and Queen of the Sea, an open water swimming competition that takes place on Copacabana Beach, and the Coupe du Monde par équipes Fencing Tournament, which takes place near the Botanical Garden, will also be studied.