Rio 2016 To Learn From London 2012

Rio 2016 is pledging it will build on the "International Inspiration" legacy program initiated by the organizers of the London 2012 Olympic Games. The objective of the International Inspiration is to use sport as a tool for social transformation, and Brazil is one of five countries chosen by London 2012 to implement the pilot project.

The commitment to continue the program was agreed upon at a meeting with Tessa Jowell, Olympics Minister for London 2012, at the Brazilian Olympic Committee's headquarters in Rio de Janeiro.

Jowell said, "it was a pleasure and an honour to meet the Rio 2016 Bid Committee and share experiences from sports initiatives in our respective countries. We at London 2012 have a very special vision and mandate, the Olympic legacy that will result from Games in London, and I am rejoiced with the commitment shown by the Rio 2016 bid committee to continue to build on the objectives and work of the International Inspiration program. I cannot publicly support any Candidate City, but I have been very impressed with what I have seen during this visit and believe Rio de Janeiro is certainly capable of hosting the Olympic Games".

Carlos Nuzman, Rio 2016 president said, "our meeting with Tessa Jowell was extremely valuable both in terms of us understanding how London won the 2012 bid campaign and the progress made since. London ran a great campaign that had a powerful message at its core that touched members of the International Olympic Committee and we can certainly learn some valuable lessons from their winning experience".

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