With three years to go, the preparations of the Rio 2016 Games are on track. The ISSF Secretary General Franz Schreiber visited the venues last March, reporting a positive first impression.
Three years to go to the Rio 2016! Monday 5th August 2013 marks three years to go until the Opening Ceremony of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, when over 10,500 athletes from more than 200 countries will descend on the ´Marvellous City´. The Opening Ceremony, which will take place at the newly refurbished Maracana stadium, will create Olympic history as the first time that the Games will be held in South America.
The Rio 2016 Games will take place with venues in clusters across four Olympic zones; Barra, Deodoro, Copacabana and Maracana. Uniquely, the 2016 Games will include two Olympic Parks, with Barra Olympic Park hosting nine Olympic sports and the Deodoro Olympic Park staging eight Olympic sports, including Shooting Sport.
Due to the legacy of hosting the 2007 Pan American Games, almost half of the Rio 2016 venues are already built. Meanwhile construction projects for the new permanent and temporary venues are on schedule to host the test events programme, which is planned to run from August 2015 to April 2016.
The Athletes Village construction is well under way with the first three condominiums already rising out of the ground. The Organising Committee is working closely with all stakeholders to ensure the interests of the athletes and sport are kept at the heart of Games planning. To date Rio 2016 has welcomed representatives from 36 National Olympic Committees, from all five continents, and received 24 visits from 18 International Federations in order to develop the detailed operational planning for the Games.
Following this year's ISSF World Cup in Acapulco, the ISSF Secretary General Franz Schreiber travelled to Rio de Janeiro, for the first official ISSF visit to the 2016 Olympic Games facilities.
Among the main subjects discussed during this visit in Rio were the test event preparations, transport to the competition venues, construction of a Finals range and the validation of the pictograms for each sport.
Mr. Franz Schreiber said: “We attended a productive visit at the shooting range, and in spite of some challenges to be solved in the next months, we think that the venue will meet the highest Olympic standards. While the range is already existing and operating – it has already been used for some international competitions – the construction of a new temporary final range is under evaluation.”
The architect responsible for the Guilherme Paraense National Centre for Sports Shooting in Deodoro, Tayomara Gama, participated in the ISSF visit and commented: “It was very productive. We were at the shooting range and there we heard the international federation’s suggestions for use of the space. We’ll do as much as we can so that all clients are received in the best manner possible”.
Rio 2016 President Carlos Nuzman said: “Thanks to the dedicated and experienced team of Rio 2016, we are keeping up with commitments, and working rationally to stage excellent Games in 2016. In three years’ time history will be made as the first Games to be hosted on South American soil are officially opened. It will be a proud moment for Rio, Brazil and everyone involved in the project, and we look forward to welcoming the world with open arms.”
IOC President Jacques Rogge said: “In Copenhagen in 2009, the Rio 2016 bid team promised to deliver Games of celebration and transformation. Four years on and using the Games as a catalyst, that transformation is taking shape, with new sporting and transport infrastructure already in use, new hotels under construction, the port area being renovated, and social projects helping to improve security and life for local communities through sport. As we reach the three-years-to-go mark, Rio 2016 is working hard to deliver on its vision and its commitments to the athletes of the world and to the people of Brazil. I am confident that Rio’s transformation will continue apace and that athletes, fans, and citizens will celebrate great Olympic Games together in Rio in 2016.”
The ISSF will follow up the preparations, and will keep its member federations, athletes and shooting fans informed about the progresses.