International Olympic Committee : News

Rebuilt Brasília stadium opens ahead of Rio 2016

5/21/2013 2:30:00 PM

The original stadium, which was built in 1974, was demolished in 2010 in order to construct a new 71,000-capacity venue that will be used during the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup and the 2014 FIFA World Cup, as well as Rio 2016.

The opening match on 18 May saw Brasiliense defeat Brasília 3-0 to claim the Federal District Championship in front of Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff and Brazilian Minister of Sports Aldo Rebelo.

The new multi-use venue, which occupies a total area of 1.6 million square metres, can be adapted to host large scale cultural or sporting events, with retractable seats offering greater flexibility. The rebuilt stadium also features more than 70 hospitality boxes and state-of-the-art media facilities.

The new venue was constructed using recycled materials from the old stadium and also features rainwater and solar energy harvesting systems, while the 90,000m2 outer membrane helps retain heat, reducing the need for air conditioning or artificial ventilation. The self-cleaning membrane also helps filter the pollution of approximately 1,000 cars.

The design of the stadium itself features 288 external columns and was inspired by various monuments in Brasília – the federal capital of Brazil.

Football legends help open Rio’s renovated Maracana Stadium

4/30/2013 8:00:00 AM

Former Brazilian football stars Ronaldo and Bebeto – who were part of the bronze medal-winning side at the 1996 Olympic Games – helped inaugurate the redeveloped stadium by playing an exhibition match in front of a crowd of more than 25,000 people, which included many of the construction workers who helped renovate the historic venue.

"It looks amazing," said Ronaldo, who also won the FIFA World Cup with Brazil in 1994 and 2002. "I'm happy to see the stadium ready again. The Maracana is a symbol of this country."

“I've played at Wembley, Camp Nou, Santiago Bernabeu and other top stadiums, but this is the greatest venue in football, it's very special,” added Bebeto, who also won a silver medal with Brazil at the 1988 Olympic Games, as well as the FIFA World Cup in 1994.

The exhibition match, which was attended by the President of Brazil, Dilma Rousseff, the Governor of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Sergio Cabral, the Mayor of Rio de Janeiro, Eduardo Paes, and the President of the Organising Committee for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, Carlos Arthur Nuzman, enabled organisers to test the stadium’s equipment, facilities and infrastructure so that final adjustments for the full functioning venue can be made.

The Maracana was originally built for the 1950 World Cup and the redeveloped venue will now host matches during the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup and the 2014 FIFA World Cup before the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

The renovations have seen the venue transformed from a double-deck seating bowl to a single tier stadium, which designers say will give supporters a better view, while the overall capacity has been reduced to 78,000.

A second test event is scheduled for 15 May, when approximately 60 per cent of the stadium’s full capacity will be used, while an official inauguration will take place on 2 June with a friendly match between the Brazil and England national teams.

Construction set to begin on Rio 2016 golf course

4/29/2013 9:00:00 AM

Rio 2016 President Carlos Nuzman said: “We are very pleased to take another important step forward in the golf course project. We will continue to work very closely with course designer Gil Hanse and the International Golf Federation to ensure we deliver an excellent course for the world’s finest golfers to enjoy at the 2016 Games.”

Golf will re-enter the Olympic Games in 2016 after a 112-year absence, having last been part of the Olympic programme at the 1904 Games in St. Louis, USA.

The 2016 Olympic course is being built at Reserva de Marapendi in Barra da Tijuca – the district that will contain the largest number of Games venues – located approximately five kilometres from the Athletes’ Village and seven kilometres from the Main Press Centre (MPC) and the International Broadcast Centre (IBC).

Following the Games the course will create an important legacy for the sport by becoming the first publicly accessible golf course in Rio de Janeiro, helping to promote golf in Brazil.

YOG graduate Chad Le Clos makes a splash in Rio

4/12/2013 11:25:00 AM

This was clear for all to see during Chad’s first visit to Rio, in March, where the next Summer Olympic Games will take place in 2016. Invited to participate in a swimming masterclass for local youngsters, the YOG graduate was joined by his inspiration, YOG Ambassador Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time, and 10-time Brazilian Paralympic champion Daniel Dias at the Rocinha Sports Centre in Rio’s largest favela.

Following Chad’s epic victory at the London 2012 Olympic Games, where he claimed the gold medal over his role model in the men’s 200m butterfly, the swimmer remains level-headed and doesn’t forget where it all started. Admitting that expectations for him in Rio 2016 are high, Chad re-iterates that “the Youth Olympic Games were a huge-stepping stone” for him, and helped him enormously in preparing for his first Olympic Games in London.

Will we see “the next Chad Le Clos” at the second Summer Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China, in 2014? Stay tuned!

Salvador stadium officially opens

4/8/2013 1:30:00 PM

The brand new stadium, built at a cost of nearly US$300m, has been selected to stage the Olympic football tournament in 2016. This summer, three matches of the FIFA Confederations Cup will take place in the arena, and it will also stage six FIFA World Cup matches in 2014.

The arena has maintained its original identity, keeping its horseshoe shape with a large opening in the southern part of the stands. The opening establishes a direct relation to the adjacent inner city lake and, simultaneously, provides optimal airflow in the stadium bowl itself.

The unique form also means the arena can be used for other events all year round, as stages for concerts and theatre events can be put in the area at the opening without conflicting with the pitch and the football matches during the football season.

Sustainability was key to the design and construction of Arena Fonte Nova, with materials carefully selected in order to minimise the stadium’s energy consumption, and concrete from the former stadium recycled and used as building material. It also uses rainwater to reduce water consumption.

Brazil President Dilma Rousseff, speaking at the inauguration ceremony prior to the opening match, said: “We are an unbeatable country. We will show that Brazil can deliver great quality to the Confederations Cup, the World Cup and the Olympics.”

Rio 2016 moves to new headquarters

3/12/2013 11:03:00 AM

The modern building, which has been designed to be as sustainable and accessible as possible, will house both the Rio 2016 Organising Committee and the Municipal Olympic Company until after the Games have been held.

“Having all teams gathered in a single building, together with the Municipal Olympic Company, makes our task easier and helps to integrate the teams,” explained Rio 2016 President Carlos Arthur Nuzman.

Modular technology was used during construction of the new headquarters, allowing faster assembly as well as the possibility of dismantling and reusing the structure after the Games.

The building also features rainwater harvesting and energy saving systems, as well as furniture made of certified wood. The air conditioning and lighting systems also help reduce energy use, while solar energy panels will help power the building.

Accessibility was also carefully considered during construction, with ramps and elevators enabling wheelchair access and Braille signposting and tactile floor coverings aiding orientation for blind visitors.

“Modernity and sustainability mark the new headquarters,” added Nuzman. “The modular construction is an innovation that better suits our project. We will use the building according to the Committee’s growth demands and, in the end, it will be possible to dismantle the structure, to reuse it elsewhere.”

Steve Redgrave impressed by Rio 2016 rowing venue

3/12/2013 11:34:00 AM

While he was in Rio, Redgrave took some time to both see and row at the future venue of the rowing competitions at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, and was impressed with it.

“It’s a marvellous setting, it’s absolutely stunning. In our sport normally we compete outside the city – we never get to compete in the heart of a city, but here in Rio we have got that chance.”

IOC Coordination Commission wraps up fourth inspection of Rio

2/20/2013 6:10:00 PM

Chaired by IOC Executive Board member Nawal El Moutawakel, the Commission spent three days examining preparations for the Rio project and receiving updates from the organisers and their partners on their plans. The Commission members also visited a number of Games-related projects including the Maracaña Stadium, Rio 2016’s new headquarters, Deodoro, and the Rio port area. They were particularly pleased to see that the local Organising Committee had taken on board many lessons from the London Games (both on site last summer and during the London Debrief in Rio last November) and has been busy adapting them to its own circumstances.

The continued strong support from the government was highlighted by the Commission following the start of regular meetings between the local Organising Committee and all levels of government, which were led by Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff. Aldo Rebelo, the Brazilian Minister of Sport; Sergio Cabral, the Governor of Rio de Janeiro; and Eduardo Paes, the Mayor of Rio de Janeiro, were also present during the meetings of the Commission.

The evolution of the structure of the Rio 2016 Organising Committee, with the arrival of new CEO Sidney Levy and a number of personnel with previous Olympic experience, have also helped to move the Rio project forward in recent months. The Commission noted that this recruitment work needs to continue, as the project moves towards final delivery, which will require previous Games experience.

“We've seen solid progress this week,” said Commission Chair El Moutawakel. “Building work is ongoing and the Organising Committee continues to strengthen its capacity. However, many projects will have to be delivered simultaneously. We remain confident but we must all stay vigilant and continue to work hard, so that timelines are respected.”

The year ahead will be a critical one for Rio 2016, with work needed to begin at a number of sports venues in order to meet the deadlines for test events ahead of the Games. Such events are crucial in making sure that the Olympic Games run smoothly, as they allow athletes to get a feel for the field of play ahead of the Olympic Games, and for National Olympic Committees and International Federations to plan all their operations.

Rio 2016’s accommodation plans were presented during the meeting. The Commission recognised that a lot of work has been done but underlined that many hotel constructions were still to be confirmed in the next few months; the final accommodation plan is an essential building block for many Games operations.

Rio 2016 also presented its plans for engaging the whole country through different areas, such as education, culture, digital media, the brand, and spectator experience. The Commission was pleased to note that all the local stakeholders of Rio 2016 were being involved in the process.

The President of the Rio 2016 Organising Committee, Carlos Arthur Nuzman, commented: “We are making strong progress in our journey and we are on track to deliver great Games for Rio, Brazil and the world to enjoy. We have worked hard to increase integration across the project and the vital engagement and support of the three levels of government is stronger than ever. We are grateful for the expert advice and guidance received from the IOC Coordination Commission this week, and the Rio 2016 teams will continue to work relentlessly to deliver solutions for the outstanding issues and to respect the timelines involved in the project.”

In addition, the Commission received updates on preparations in areas such as athletes, venues, sports, International Federation services, National Olympic Committee services, transport, media services, work force, technology, marketing, and the Paralympic Games.

With the conclusion of London 2012 last year, the Commission will start to visit Rio twice a year from now on, as is the usual schedule for Coordination Commission visits to a Games host.

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Jacques Rogge: "Early legacy planning key to producing long-term benefits"

11/21/2012 8:00:00 AM

The final Olympic Games of my 12-year term as president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) were received with great fanfare this summer in London. Evidence of their success continues to reach me almost daily in the form of the question: “Were they the best Games in history?”

As much as it would please me to simply answer in the affirmative, I know such a response would be premature. My reply is always the same: “Let history be the judge.”

I say this not to take anything away from the thousands of people responsible for delivering London 2012, which was clearly an across-the-board success, but to draw attention to the considerable importance the IOC places on legacy – what an Olympic host city leaves behind long after the 16 days of sporting competition are over.

The Olympic Games are the largest sporting event in the world and for most host cities they are the biggest and most complex project they will ever undertake. Their organisation affects the whole of the city and its population and often includes urban, economic, social and environmental development that requires the broad and cohesive involvement of city leaders, regional and national authorities, Games organisers, local communities, commercial partners and all the members of the Olympic Movement.

The IOC actively encourages each city that bids for an Olympic Games to consider from the outset how they could utilize the event to bring positive, long-lasting benefits to its area and citizens. This sort of planning typically begins a decade before the start of a Games.

By the time Chairman of the London 2012 bid committee Sebastian Coe spoke at the host city election in Singapore in 2005, for example, the London organisers already had a firm and highly detailed vision for what they wanted to deliver in 2012 and beyond.

It included the regeneration of a massive industrial wasteland in East London, providing the local community with world-class sporting venues to train and compete in, new parks and residential areas, better transport connections and infrastructure, employment and business opportunities, sustainable construction, an increase in volunteerism, and the creation of the next generation of sporting champions by inspiring young people everywhere to become more involved in physical activity.

The organisation of the London 2012 Games themselves cost around 2 billion pounds, much of which was covered by the IOC and private funds. But the local authorities earmarked a further 9.3 billion pounds to leverage the Games as a catalyst for rapid city development and improvement, both tangible and intangible, that would otherwise have taken decades to achieve.

London 2012 has already delivered on many of its promises and by continuing to pursue others we are optimistic that the citizens of London will benefit from the Games long into the future.

The foundations for London’s achievements in this area were firmly built on the knowledge and expertise of past Olympic Games organisers. Massive urban regeneration projects undertaken by Barcelona 1992 and Sydney 2000, environmental and sustainability standards set by Lillehammer 1994 and Vancouver 2010, and programmes to encourage volunteerism and youth participation by Beijing 2008 are just a few of the success stories from past organisers that London used as a springboard for its own Games.

As the link between past, present, and future host cities, the IOC assists Games organisers through a comprehensive transfer of knowledge programme. Organisers of upcoming Games in Russia (Sochi 2014), Brazil (Rio 2016), and South Korea (PyeongChang 2018) are already benefitting from the programme, which includes an important debriefing that the IOC organises to give future host cities a comprehensive look at what worked well at previous Olympic Games and what could be improved.

This year it was London’s turn to pass the torch at the London 2012 Debriefing in Rio de Janeiro from 17-21 November. The Debriefing focused on all aspects of Games operations, from the moment a bid city wins the right to host a Games to long after the Games conclude. These meetings were also attended by representatives of the 2020 candidate cities Istanbul, Tokyo and Madrid, as well as other stakeholders responsible for staging the Games.

The London organisers had a great deal to pass on to their successors, who were given crucial insight into, among other things, producing and remaining focused on a long-term vision for their Games, the importance of collaboration between all parties during the planning and preparation phases, and ways to integrate the public into the event.

The Debriefing is by no means meant to provide a cookie-cutter template for future hosts. Rather, it is intended to provide valuable lessons that host cities can adopt and adapt to fit their own unique circumstances. We encourage upcoming Games organisers to innovate and expand on what they learn and ultimately improve upon the best practices of their predecessors.

London managed to do exactly that in preparing for and delivering the Games of the XXX Olympiad. It may still be too soon to call them the greatest Games ever, but ask the same question again in 20 years and you might just get a “yes.”

Olympic marketing partners: Opportunity knocks for future Games organisers

11/20/2012 2:13:00 PM

That’s a key message the IOC’s Managing Director of Television and Marketing Services, Timo Lumme, would like future organisers of the Olympic Games to take away from the IOC Debriefing of the London 2012 Games in Rio.

“You have to recognise that the partner group offers an unequalled and unique opportunity to do a multitude of things. They provide far more than just financing for the Games: they provide a fantastic amount of experience and know-how, including platforms to leverage and promote the Games,” Lumme said.

A comprehensive debriefing specifically for Olympic marketing partners was held in Rio just prior to the official debrief from 17-21 November to give those in attendance the time to look at all aspects of the partner relationship with organising committees, including services, hospitality, partner and venue operations, and others.

“The word partnership is important,” Lumme added. “The partners are clients but they are also facilitators and activators of the Games vision. So the notion of debriefing and educating, if you like, is to make future organisers understand the strategic importance of having both a revenue programme and leveraging marketing partners to fulfil their overall Games vision in many, many different ways.”

The IOC marketing team began transferring the knowledge they and their stakeholders gleaned from London 2012 shortly after the Olympic cauldron was extinguished on 12 August. The official debriefing this week, Lumme said, allows his team to pass along these messages in a broader way to more people.

“And one of those messages is: The more you integrate them, the more you can benefit from the various things that they can bring. They have a wealth of experience and they are willing to put resources behind that. Paramount to staging a successful Games is figuring out how to maximise the partner relationship.”