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INTERVIEW-Olympics-Rio showing dynamism, World Cup a confidence boost

(Reuters) - Rio de Janeiro's 2016 Olympic preparations are in full swing with organisers having rediscovered their dynamism after years of delays and the soccer World Cup boosting their confidence, IOC President Thomas Bach said on Tuesday.

Branded as the 'worst preparations ever by' International Olympic Committee Vice President John Coates in April, work for the Rio Games was now much more coordinated, said Bach, adding his colleague has since revised his statements.

"Rio has made great progress in the last couple of months," Bach told Reuters in an interview a day before his one-year anniversary since taking over the IOC top job.

"You have seen the mayor and governor taking more responsibility and showing great dynamism and working closely with the organising committee."

Bach, a German lawyer and former Olympic champion fencer, took over from Jacques Rogge on Sept. 10, 2013 and was immediately thrown into the deep end, trying to speed up preparations for the first summer Games under his watch.

Rio organisers and government officials had until recently been criticised for failing to coordinate work and responsibility efficiently, leading to years of delays in almost every major project for the Games, including the Deodoro park which will host several sports.

The June/July soccer World Cup, which many feared could be faced with transportation, infrastructure and security issues due partly to similar delays in construction and organisation as the Olympics, was a successful event with no major problems and was hailed as one of the best ever World Cup.

CONFIDENCE BOOST

"The Brazilians are having greater confidence after the successful organisation of the soccer World Cup. So there are many positive indicators," Bach said.

"I am sure that now the IOC coordination commission which will go there soon will note further progress. The facilities in Deodoro are getting off the ground and the Olympic village is making great progress."

In his whirlwind one year in charge which has seen him travel for much of the time, Bach has also launched what he calls Agenda 2020, an effort to overhaul the Olympics, including the bidding system and making the Games more flexible in their structure and programme.

Among the changes he hopes will be adopted in an IOC session in Monaco in December is making it easier to include and exclude sports from the Games to make them more attractive to spectators, broadcasters and sponsors.

Currently a sport needs to be voted in seven years before making its Olympic appearance.

Tokyo, which will host the 2020 Games, is expected to be the first Games to benefit from these changes with the likely re-introduction of baseball and softball, hugely popular sports in Japan, in their programme.

"What we could see in the last executive board meeting (in July) there was good support for the ideas brought forward by the working groups and the Olympic summit," said Bach.

"I hope that there will be taken some measures with regard to bidding procedure, that we may get more flexibility of the composition of the Olympic programme," he said.

"I also hope very much the idea of the Olympic TV channel will be approved," he said of his plans to set up the channel that would promote Olympic sports in the years between the Games and help connect with younger people.

Reuters

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  • 4 weeks later...

http://espn.go.com/olympics/story/_/id/11623460/ioc-says-preparations-2016-rio-de-janeiro-olympics-made-lot-progress

IOC: Rio has made 'a lot of progress'

RIO DE JANEIRO -- Preparations for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro have made "a lot of progress" in the last six months but the schedule "remains tight," the head of the IOC's inspection team said Wednesday.

Nawal El Moutawakel, who ended a three-day visit to Rio, was upbeat in nearly all her comments. This contrasts sharply with the situation about six months ago when one IOC member described the preparations as the "worst" in recent history.

Nawal said the main concern was hotel rooms and the pace of building venues. She said 68 hotels were under construction in Rio.

"Accommodation was always going to be a challenge with the large number of hotels that have to be built," Nawal said.

Nawal said 44 test events must be held before the games, with venue construction on a tight schedule at the main Olympic Park and the second cluster in Deodoro in northern Rio. Ground was only broken a few months ago at Deodoro.

"I think Rio and Brazil will experience a full transformation of the city," she said. "The games (will) have an impact on the population and on the entire country. The Olympic Games is something that is going to bring plenty of positive aspects."

Christophe Dubi, who has taken over from Gilbert Felli as the new IOC executive director of the Olympic Games, was clear about the task ahead for organizers.

"We're inside the two years and we are facing an amount of work that has to be delivered on a day-to-day basis," Dubi said. "There is no express deep concern that keeps us awake at night. However, at the same time we are in that critical phase and a lot will have to be done."

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, who is in a re-election battle, visited the Olympic Park in suburban Barra da Tijuca on Tuesday as part of a campaign stop. The first round of voting is Sunday with Rousseff expected to reach the decisive second round on Oct. 26 against challenger Marina Silva.

Spending on the Olympics is expected to reach $20 billion, a mix of public and private money.

Brazil, which has just entered into what most economists define as a recession, also spent about $11 billion to host this year's World Cup.

IOC member Carlos Nuzman, head of the Rio organizing committee, declined to answer several questions about the Olympic golf course under construction.

The city and the developer are being sued over alleged violations of environmental rules in building the course, which is centered in a nature reserve just a few miles (kilometers) from the Olympic Park.

The golf course is being built alongside 160 high-end apartments that are selling for between $2.5 and $7 million. A penthouse is even more expensive.

"This is a question for the city," he said repeatedly.

No representative from the city was available to answer questions about the litigation, which may halt construction at the course. A judge is expected to rule in the next few weeks if the developer must alter the course design and hand back a parcel of land to the nature reserve.

Golf is returning to the Olympics for the first time in 112 years.

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I want reports of NON-progress. These good news bits are very boring!!

So, these will be some boring times for you, Baron. All projects under works.

Engenhão/Olympic Stadium roof fixing process

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15277752737_cf1d610a97_b.jpg

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And the model of the Olympic Village with paisagism.

The new district "Ilha Pura" will be sold after the Olympic Games and will become a upper middle class residential complex.

15101214358_707a32e84e_b.jpg

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Wow. That's a huge scale model village!! However, if most of the bldgs are from one pattern, why the expense in recreating 17 of the same thing?

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Wow. That's a huge scale model village!! However, if most of the bldgs are from one pattern, why the expense in recreating 17 of the same thing?

I think the 17 buildings are not exact the same pattern, and the model are there too to show the parks, green areas and swimming pools around the buildings, something major to real estate sells here in Brazil.

Edited by DannyelBrazil
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Oh, this is for the sales office. Then I understand why they would do such a detailed mock-up.

Yes.

If you want to see more (I don't think so) about the real estate project for the Olympic Village, here is the official link for sales:

http://ilhapura.com.br/

And also the promotional video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYU_02gHmsI

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  • 1 month later...

Opening Ceremony news

Rio Olímpico

Fernando Meirelles, Daniela Thomas e Andrucha Waddington vão dirigir a cerimônia de abertura dos Jogos Olímpicos de 2016.

Os três diretores já estão trabalhando no projeto.

According to journalist Ancelmo Gois, Rio 2016 Opening Ceremony will be lead by three film directors: Fernando Meirelles, Daniela Thomas and Andrucha Waddington.

They're already working on project.

Source: http://oglobo.globo.com/rio/ancelmo/posts/2014/11/21/a-coluna-de-hoje-555215.asp

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I'm glad the directors will be national talent of Brazil. Meirelles directed City of God, which was a very controversial (yet very good) movie that depicted the issues on the favelas. Daniela Thomas was one of the two creative directors of the not very liked handover segment in London 2012 closing.

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Well, the government didn't liked the portrayal of Brazil society on the film. Then again they are usually very sensitive with foreign depictions of Brazil *stares at the Brazil episodes of The Simpsons*

Actually, some public companies sponsored the movie and never heard anything about anybody in the government critizing the movie, indeed, because, if that was true, they would criticize lots of movies made in Brazil about poverty, favelas and stuff... There are dozens of them...

About the Simpsons, the entire subject is very controversial inside Brazil... Some liked, some don't and the president of Brazilian Tourism Company of that time made some stupid statements...

The last Simpsons episode in Brazil about World Cup cause almost no reaction from anybody... (In fact, I love all of them: City of God and both Simpsons episodes)

Edited by DannyelBrazil
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Brazilian Central Bank launches Rio 2016 commemorative coins Nine coins – one gold, four silver and four for circulation – that celebrate Rio and the Olympic and Paralympic Games are already available

maedas_lancamentos-_alexferro.28112014.-
Some of the coins are collectors’ items, while others have entered normal circulation (Photo: Rio 2016/Alex Ferro)

The first batch of commemorative coins for the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games are now on the market. The Brazilian Central Bank launched the nine coins – one gold, four silver and four for ordinary circulation – on Friday (28 November). A total of 36 coins celebrating the first edition of the Games to be held in South America will be minted between now and 2016.

The first gold coin to be launched depicts the Christ the Redeemer statue on one side and a homage to the 100m sprint on the other, underneath the Olympic motto: Citius, Altius, Fortius (faster, higher, stronger).

“The coins have been a part of the Games since Helsinki 1952 and it’s a great honour to launch the first Rio 2016 coins in partnership with the Brazilian Central Bank,” said Rio 2016 President Carlos Nuzman. “Every Brazilian will have the chance to have a small part of the Games, and of their own country, in their hands.”

maedas_lancamentos-_alexferro.28112014.-

The first gold coin features an image of the Christ the Redeemer statue (Photo: Rio 2016/ Alex Ferro)

The silver coins also pay tribute to Rio de Janeiro, with one side showing iconic city landmarks with people practising sports (rowing, running, cycling and beach volleyball) in the foreground. The reverse side celebrates cultural and natural aspects of Rio and Brazil, with a porpoise, bromeliad, the Lapa Arches and Bossa Nova the first entries in the four themes of fauna, flora, architecture and music.

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The Lapa Arches are celebrated on one of the first new batch of silver coins (Photo: Rio 2016/ Alex Ferro)

While the gold and silver coins are collectors’ items, the rest have been minted for normal circulation, with a value of one real. These celebrate the Olympic and Parlympic Sports, with the first set featuring athletics and swimming – the two sports in which Brazil has won most Olympic medals – as well as golf, which is returning to the Olympic Games after an absence of 112 years, and paratriathlon, which will make its Games debut in 2016.

The coins will enter circulation via the banking system, although some will be sold in special packaging for collectors. The gold and silver coins are also available for purchase, click here to find out more. In total, there will be four gold coins, 16 silver and 16 for circulation, worth one real each. The next batch is due to be released in the first half of 2015.

The coins were designed and produced by the Brazilian Central Bank and Brazilian Mint, with technical support from the Rio 2016 Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Find out about the coin characteristics below:

Gold coins:

Face value: 10 Brazilian reais

Composition: 900/1000 gold

Diameter: 16mm

Weight: 4.4g

Edge: serrated

Finish: proof

Maximum production run: 5,000

Selling price: R$1,180

Silver coins:

Face value: 5 Brazilian reais

Composition: 925/1000 silver

Diameter: 40mm

Weight: 27g

Edge: serrated

Finish: proof

Maximum production run: 25,000

Selling price: R$195

Coins for ordinary circulation:

Face value: 1 Brazilian real

Material: stainless steel (inner core) and bronze-plated steel (outer ring)

Diameter: 27mm

Weight: 7g

Edge: serrated

Finish: common

Maximum production run: 20 million (maximum of 200,000 in carded sets)

Selling price for carded sets: R$13

Rio 2016

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Some news

14335563.jpeg
Engenhão (a.k.a. João Havelange) Olympic Stadium will have its roof works ready in January 2015
http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/esporte/2014/12/1556209-prometida-para-novembro-reforma-do-engenhao-deve-ficar-pronta-em-janeiro.shtml

Canoagem-Slalom1.jpg
Slalom venue is under full works and is expected to be ready in the end of 2015.
http://olimpicos.blogfolha.uol.com.br/2014/12/01/lago-do-circuito-olimpico-da-canoagem-para-2016-ja-ganha-formato-veja-fotos/

14335276.jpeg
BOA (British NOC) director, Mark England, says the criticism over Rio preparations months ago were unfair.
"We came to Rio with a team of 40 people from British Sports Federations to check the progress of the games. We are unanimous to say everything was just fantastic".
http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/esporte/2014/12/1556341-para-diretor-do-comite-britanico-criticas-a-organizacao-da-rio-16-foram-injustas.shtml

Tickets sells will start only in January 2015.

Price table: http://blogs.lancenet.com.br/rio2016/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Tabela_de_precos_dos_ingressos_dos_Jogos_Olimpicos_Rio_2016.pdf

Edited by DannyelBrazil
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  • 3 weeks later...

Poluição da Baía de Guanabara volta a preocupar para as Olimpíadas -o globo

-Bicampeão mundial, britânico Nick Dempsey critica: ‘É a pior água em que já velejei na minha vida’

Brazil Olympics: Super-bacteria found in Rio sea waters -bbc

-The "super-bacteria" are usually found in hospital waste and produce an enzyme, KPC, resistant to antibiotics.

-Nearly 70% of sewage in Rio - a city of some 10 million people - is spilled raw into the waters of Guanabara Bay.

British sailors Hannah Mills and Saskia Clark mugged at knife point in Rio -bbc

-"We made it back to the hotel slightly shaken but OK,"

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The hand over to Rio was not good.....but they usually are pretty bad for some reason!

Well they only have like 10 minutes to even do it, and they're using a stadium that is not their own. So they can't push for too many demands on the host city on what they need for the stadium as it's not theirs to make such demands. There have been a few good ones though. I loved the handover to Beijing at the Athens closing ceremony. They really utilized the space very well. Oh and as much as I hate to admit it, Sochi pulled off a really great handover ceremony in Vancouver. They definitely utilized the technology available the best.

One of the worst, Atlanta's handover ceremony at Barcelona. What an atrocity! Second worst, London's handover in Beijing. It was rather embarrassing compared to what Beijing just finished doing for a closing ceremony.

Yes. I think IOC should move the Olympics to other city. A good choice is wherever Paul wants.

All that needs to be done is move the sailing events to another location in Brazil, somewhere safer and cleaner. Or move them to another country altogether. It's not worth the risk of infecting the entire roster of athletes in sailing with nasty bacteria, or risk them having to experience a mugging.

Oh snap! The IOC has made the wrong choice!

Of course they did! These idiots live in a world of their own and don't experience the idea of everyday crime because they're so privileged some of them have security with them 24/7. They don't live in the reality of everyday life and dangers. I so wish they had just given it to Madrid and make a ridiculous point that there must be a host in South America, even if it is one of the most dangerous places on earth.

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Of course they did! These idiots live in a world of their own and don't experience the idea of everyday crime because they're so privileged some of them have security with them 24/7. They don't live in the reality of everyday life and dangers. I so wish they had just given it to Madrid and make a ridiculous point that there must be a host in South America, even if it is one of the most dangerous places on earth.

I feel so lucky to be "alive" after 31 years after reading this... And with no 24/7 security... And working late night... Travelling 160km everyday... By bus... Sometimes by car...

All that needs to be done is move the sailing events to another location in Brazil, somewhere safer and cleaner. Or move them to another country altogether. It's not worth the risk of infecting the entire roster of athletes in sailing with nasty bacteria, or risk them having to experience a mugging.

Why not move the entire Olympic Games?

Paul, where?

...you guys talk about violence in Rio de Janeiro and/or Brazil like it is the deadliest place in the world... Check again your factbook, guys, really...

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About Sailing venue... Just move it few kms west to the clean waters of Barra da Tijuca (still inside Rio de Janeiro city borders)
Sailors will think they are in Miami Beach, only difference, the body shapes in Rio are slight better....
218997017-XG.jpg

Edited by DannyelBrazil
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