Australian tennis star Pat Cash, Wimbledon champion in 1987, today stepped onto another historic turf. In Rio de Janeiro to compete in the Rio Champions Cup tennis tournament, the two-time Davis Cup winner visited Maracanã Stadium and examined the city’s plans to host the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

At the Maracanã, Cash played in goal during a light-hearted kick-around with Americans Jim Courier and John McEnroe, and Brazilian Fernando Meligeni. “It was a lot of fun, and the goalposts seemed much further apart than they look on TV,” joked Cash. “The Maracanã is a magnificent stadium with an incredible atmosphere. I’m sure that athletes from all over the world would like to compete here.”

After the visit, Cash talked with Rio 2016’s Venues Manager, Rodrigo Garcia, about the city’s Olympic bid, the use of the Maracanã for football matches and the opening and closing ceremonies, as well as the construction of the Olympic Training Center, which is planned to host the Olympic tennis competitions. “Rio de Janeiro is one of the world’s great cities and, if it receives the Olympic Games, the world’s athletes will compete in superb venues. The Olympic Games can transform a city and inspire many people, especially the young. I believe it would be a fantastic experience for Rio de Janeiro,” said Cash, who took a copy of the executive summary of the Rio 2016 Candidature File.

The Rio Champions Cup began today, at Rio Arena, which was built for the Rio 2007 Pan American Games. If Rio is awarded the Olympic Games, the venue will host artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics and trampoline events.