Nuzman is joined in London by 152 Rio staff, who will be participating in the IOC Observers? Programme, and 51 representatives of different levels of government, who are also here to learn from this Games experience. During his intervention, President Nuzman also congratulated London 2012 Chair Sebastian Coe and his team for their work in delivering the 2012 Games.
Construction underway
During its presentation, Rio 2016 presented the progress being made on its venues and how they would be laid out across the city. The Rio project is split into four clusters ? Copacabana, Barra, Deodoro, and Maraca?a ? with a mix of existing, new, renovated and temporary venues to be used for the Games. Work has already started on the Rio 2016 Olympic Village and the Olympic Park, with the sites expected to leave an important legacy for housing and sport respectively.
Bus Rapid Transit
Developments in a number of other areas are also moving forward according to the Rio team, with the new Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system taking shape. The Transoeste BRT is already partially open, with work underway on the Transcarioca and the Transolimpica BRTs, while the Transbrasil BRT has just had its federal funding agreed. The Rio presentation also highlighted the plans for the port area of Rio, which is currently being redeveloped, and the advances being made in planning for accommodation needs for the Games.
A unique opportunity
Speaking after the Rio delegation, IOC Coordination Commission Chair Nawal El Moutawakel underlined the importance of the London experience for Rio 2016 when she said, ?The detailed observations the Rio delegation is now conducting across the London Games are going to be invaluable. The Debriefing of the London 2012 Games in Rio next November will also be a unique opportunity for the Rio organisers to learn as much as they can from the current Games and test some of their assumptions. This will help them tremendously as they move into operational mode.?
She concluded her speech by underlining the IOC?s confidence in the Rio project, ?We welcome in this respect the renewed commitment from all levels of government in Brazil and we would like to reiterate our total support and availability to facilitate the journey to Rio 2016. We are convinced that Brazil has the energy, the willingness and the resources to carry out this fantastic ambition that Brazil set out to achieve in Copenhagen in 2009.?