Lausanne, Switzerland, June 7, 2012: The third visit of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Coordination Commission to Rio concluded today with Commission Chair Nawal El Moutawakel underlining the strong government support that the 2016 project continues to receive, with all levels of government represented during the meetings. Both Federal Sports Minister Rebelo and Rio Mayor Paes took part in the Commission’s visit.
Since the Commission’s last visit in June 2011, the Rio 2016 Organising Committee has made great strides towards creating a clearer vision of the roles and responsibilities of the various stakeholders involved in the Games, as well as clearly defining project deadlines. Some examples of this work include the finalisation of the Olympic Park master plan, the clarification of responsibilities for the Deodoro cluster, and the near-completion of the Rio 2016 matrix of responsibilities.
With this important and complex piece of work coming to a conclusion, it is becoming apparent that the timelines for delivery are already very tight and the amount of work to be completed is considerable. Particularly as construction on the Olympic Park and the Deodoro cluster, which includes 18 competition venues; the Main Press Centre and International Broadcast Centre; and other Games projects is scheduled to begin in 2013 and all of the sports venues are to be completed between mid 2015 and early 2016. The Commission was pleased to note, however, that Rio 2016 is putting into place a methodology and a number of working groups to ensure that all the parties involved in the Games will be working as one.
The successful delivery of Rio’s project will therefore continue to require a very strong level of integration between all the stakeholders and the rapid recruitment of staff with specific Games experience. The Commission was also confident that there remains sufficient time to deliver what is needed.
Speaking after the meeting, IOC Coordination Commission Chair Nawal El Moutawakel said: “Rio 2016, under the leadership of Carlos Nuzman, continues to enjoy great support from all levels of government. From our experience, we know that once the previous edition of the Games comes to an end, the future organizers need to transition into the implementation phase and Rio will be no exception.” She continued: “It was a pleasure to have all the different levels of government with us again this week, their continued support is vital to the success of the project and we can see that their enthusiasm for the Olympics and Paralympics remains as great as ever.”
Crucially for the development of the Games project, a team from Rio will take part in the London Games as observers and secondees. This will be a great opportunity for the Rio organizers to get a first-hand look at what it takes to host an Olympic Games, enabling them to refine their plans and streamline their operational processes. London will also allow Olympic fans around the world to get a first taste of Rio 2016, as Rio steps onto the global stage with an eight-minute segment during the London Games Closing Ceremony.
The President of the Rio 2016 Organizing Committee, Carlos Nuzman, commented: “I remain confident in the integration and unity between the three levels of government (federal, state and city), Rio 2016 and other stakeholders, which are crucial for the success of this project. This unity dates back to the time of our bid. We acknowledge all the advice and the constructive feedback we have received from the IOC Coordination Commission this week, and we will continue working hard with our partners to meet our deadlines.”
The Commission paid visits to the site of the future Olympic Village, where Chair El Moutawakel launched the construction of the Olympic Village along with the Mayor of Rio and the village developers; the Transoeste Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line; and the Sao Conrado metro tunnel. The Games are already acting as a catalyst for positive change in the city, with the Transoeste BRT, scheduled to be used for the Games, officially opened to the public today – one of many great legacies in the pipeline for Rio 2016. Indeed, all the planned BRT lines for the Games, as well as the new metro line, are already under construction.
The Coordination Commission also welcomed the news that the construction of the media village accommodation in Barra had been confirmed. In addition, it noted that while there was strong interest in new hotel projects in Rio, a large number would still need to be constructed in order to fill the gap noted at the time of the bid. As anticipated, a large number of rooms will be on cruise ships, and the new pier construction and port upgrading will be essential in ensuring a positive experience for those using the ships. A working group has been put in place by Rio 2016 and its partners to ensure good integration around this complex project.
The organisers and their local partners updated the Commission on the progress being made in numerous areas of Games preparations, including athlete and National Olympic Committee services, sport and International Federation services, the Paralympic Games, marketing, sustainability, legacy and venues. Particularly well received by the Commission was an excellent presentation on the preparation of Team Brazil for the 2012 and 2016 Games and the successful work of the Rio 2016 marketing team in engaging the wider business community.
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