Becomes member
South Sudan becomes the Olympic movement’s 206th member, crossing the final hurdle to competing at the Rio games. The IOC approves the country’s National Olympic Committee. IOC president Bach says during the meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia:
With this recognition, we send a signal of hope to this young nation of South Sudan; a signal of hope because sport builds bridges between people and cultures.
IOC officials and South Sudanese representatives are seen wiping away tears during Sunday’s ceremony. South Sudan has seven recognized Olympic sports federations, including basketball, table tennis and athletics. The country needs five federations to be recognized, according to IOC requirements.
Construction Begins
2 CommentsWork begins on Rio 2016’s Deodoro Olympic Park. This will be the second largest park of the 2016 Games.The site is divided into north and south regions, separated by a railway line. Today’s construction began on the north region. Construction in the south region will begin by August. Rio 2016 President, Carlos Nuzman, says
This is a very important day. We are very proud to see work start on Deodoro Olympic Park. It underlines the important legacy that the Pan-American Games left to Rio, and the new confidence in the success of the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Today, Brazil has a highly positive image due to the FIFA World Cup, and I’m certain that our Games will be no different.
The park is slated to be completed in early 2016.
International Trade Pavilion design
0 CommentsKREOD Architectures unveils designs of a 1,200 sq. m.International Trade Pavilion to be displayed in the Barra da Tijuca during the Games. The Pavilion is meant to look like a ship when seen from head-on and will be located on a tear-shaped platform. The Pavilion design is 20 times larger than the one KREOD designed for the 2012 London Games.
Market research supplier named
Nielsen is announced as official market research supplier for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic games. The company will report public opinion and expectations surrounding the games. This is the third time the company has been selected. Ragasol, President of Nielsen Brazil, says:
Organising these events is the most important showcase that a country can have. Our mission is to help the Olympic Movement take decisions and support Brazil in delivering the best Games in history.
Bus Rapid Transit link opens
0 CommentsThe Transcarioca BRT opens in Rio de Janeiro. The system includes 10 viaducts, nine underpasses, and three bridges with over 120 buses in operation.
IOC: ‘Worst ever’ preparations
0 CommentsThe International Olympic Committee has called the preparations in Rio the “worst ever” – comparing them to the last-ditch efforts of Athens in 2004. IOC vice-president, John Coates:
The IOC has formed a special taskforce to try and speed up the preparations but the situation is critical on the ground. We have become very concerned. They are not ready in many, many ways. We have to make it happen and that is the IOC’s approach. You can’t walk away from this.
Many are blaming the hosting of two major world sporting events – the World Cup and the Olympic Games – on the continued decrease in progress. Rio’s mayor, Eduardo Paes:
Don’t ever in your life do a World Cup and an Olympic Games at the same time. I am not cut out to be a masochist.
Sixth Coordination Commission visit
0 CommentsThe IOC Coordination Commission for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games wraps up its sixth visit with a clear message to the organizers that every second counts. Chair Nawal El Moutawakel says:
The Rio 2016 Olympic Games have great potential for being a very exciting event which leaves many legacies. But although progress is being made, each decision that is postponed and each subsequent delay will have a negative impact on delivery. Total focus and dedication are therefore required.
Football venues confirmed
0 CommentsOrganizers confirm the football venues for the Games located around the country, including Arena Corinthians (Sao Paulo), Maracana (Rio de Janeiro), Arena Fonte Nova (Salvador), Mane Garrincha (Brasilia), and Mineirao stadium (Belo Horizonte). All stadiums are also venues for the 2014 World Cup.
Budget announced
0 CommentsThe Rio 2016 Organizing Committee announces that its budget for the 2016 Olympic Games will be balanced at BRL 7 billion. The budget covers all expected revenue and expenses of the Rio 2016 Organizing Committee. This includes the organizing of 65 Olympic and Paralympic championships, with 16,000 athletes and officials from 204 National Olympic Committees, 4,500 technical officials, 70,000 volunteers, and over 25,000 media representative. IOC President Thomas Bach says
We congratulate Rio 2016 on announcing a balanced Games budget. We are happy to be contributing over USD 1 billion to the Games and to see that Rio is aiming to deliver its operations with only private financing. They conducted a very thorough budgeting process to reach this result and we believe that they can look forward with confidence, as they work to deliver successful Games in 2016.
1,000 days until Games
0 CommentsThe 1,000 days until the Rio 2016 Olympic Games is celebrated with various events across Brazil including the biggest ever edition of the Brazilian School Youth Games. IOC President Thomas Bach:
One thousand days remain until the Rio 2016 Olympic Games begin and young athletes across Brazil and around the world are dreaming about being part of this great celebration of sport. The Rio Games have inspired those young sports people, as well as many others, who see and understand the benefits that these Games will bring the citizens of the host city and Brazil long after the 17 days of competition have ended.
Pictograms revealed
0 CommentsThe Rio 2016 Organizing Committee reveals the sport pictograms for the 2016 Games. This is the first time in Olympic Games history where each sport will be represented by a distinctive picture. This will allow guests and participants of all nationalities and languages to immediately identify the sport taking place.
Rio 2016 President, Carlos Nuzman:
For the first time, all Olympic and Paralympic sports are individually represented. This is one of our unique contributions to the history of the Games. I congratulate the creative team for their dedication and hard work together with diverse groups who contributed to this launch.
Olympic Park masterplan
0 CommentsThe masterplan for Rio’s Olympic Park is revealed.The winning project was chosen ahead of 60 entries from companies in 18 countries. Carlos Arthur Nuzman, President of the Rio 2016 Organizing Committee:
This is yet another step taken towards building the Rio 2016 Games legacy. The Olympic Park legacy for Brazilian sports will be a training centre modeled after the successful experiences of the world’s greatest sporting powers.
After the Games, this Park will serve as South America’s first Olympic Training Centre, helping to discover and develop aspiring talent.
Logo controversy
0 CommentsBrazil’s Tatíl Design unveils the official logo for the 2016 games during the New Year’s Eve celebration on Copacabana beach. The design shop faces plagiarism charges based on a similarity to the logo of the Telluride Foundation. Tatíl Design director Fred Gelli tells GloboEsporte.com that the team heavily researched other designs to assure the games’ logo was unique.
For some reason, we missed that one.
Broadcast rights awarded
0 CommentsThe IOC announces that broadcast rights in Brazil for the 2014 Sochi games and 2016 summer games have been awarded to three organizations. Globo Comunicação e Participações S.A. (TV Globo) wins the rights to air across all broadcast platforms, including non-exclusive free-to-air television in partnership with Rádio e Televisão Bandeirantes Ltda (Bandeirantes). Radio e Televisão Record S/A (Rede Record) also wins the right to free-to-air television on a non-exclusive basis. IOC President Rogge says:
This is an important announcement, not only for the IOC but for the Olympic Movement as a whole. Brazilians will be able to enjoy unparalleled coverage of the Olympic Games in 2014 and 2016. The agreement also represents an important increase in revenue for the Olympic Movement, which will be redistributed to help develop and promote Olympic sports around the world.
Golf, rugby approved
A international committee approves golf and rugby sevens for possible inclusion in the 2016 games out of a list of seven sports, rejecting baseball, softball, and three others. The board submits the approved choices for ratification by the 106-member IOC in Copenhagen. Women’s boxing is also given final approval in the 2012 games. Woods supports golf’s ratification:
Golf is a truly global sport and it should have been in the Olympics a while ago. If it does get in, it would be great for golf and some of the other small countries that are now emerging in golf.
Porto Marvilha
0 CommentsRio begins its Porto Marvilha, or “Marvelous Port”, waterfront renovation project. The project includes hotels, residences, office complexes, leisure space, and light-rail. One commentator says:
The sound of modern Rio isn’t the samba or even the bossa nova. It’s the cacophony of construction on a massive scale.