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Rio gives a tantalising taste of 2016

Rio gives a tantalising taste of 2016
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14/08/2012

The eyes of the sporting world were set firmly on Brazil when the handover of the Olympic flag took place during the London 2012 Closing Ceremony, highlighting Rio de Janeiro as the next host city.

Audiences around the world were then treated to an eight minute Brazilian spectacle during Rio 2016’s portion of the show, the brainchild of creative directors Cao Hamburger and Daniela Thomas.

The segment saw the Olympic Stadium transformed into a sea of green and yellow in honour of the Brazilian flag, creating a carnival atmosphere that celebrated the country’s mix of culture, music and dance, and included samba dancing from Renato Sorriso, popular Brazilian singer Marisa Monte, model Alessandra Ambrósio and an unexpected appearance from footballer Pelé.

The Rio de Janeiro Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games (Rio 2016) has released further details of what to expect from the Games in 2016.

One of the themes for the 2016 Games is “A city leaps forward”, reflected by the organising committee’s decision to have Brazilian children present the video outlining the city's plans to build venues and infrastructure a few weeks ago at the IOC Session.    

The competitions in Rio will be held in four zones across the city, with venue clusters in Copacabana, in Deodoro and around the Maracanã stadium, while the Olympic Park will be built in Barra.

In addition, the Olympic football tournament will be staged in various stadiums around Brazil, with cities including São Paulo, Brasília, Belo Horizonte and Salvador.

Rio 2016 said in a recent statement that construction is running on time and that they are “delivering on our promises” to transform the city and its transportation network.

So with London now over, the people of Brazil are looking forward to seeing you in Rio in four years time!

London 2012

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Discover the best photos of London 2012

  • 4th Olympic Gold for Bradley Wiggins

    London – 1 August 2012: In the space of less than a month, Bradley Wiggins won the Tour de France, then became Olympic time trial champion in front of a home crowd. Here he poses with his gold medal, holding aloft the British flag, with the pride of winning of his fourth gold medal at three Olympic Games, but his very first on the road.

  • Individual time trial podium

    London – 1 August 2012: Great Britain’s Bradley Wiggins (gold), flanked by Germany’s Tony Martin (silver) and his fellow countryman Chris Froome (bronze) on the podium for the men’s road time trial, in front of Hampton Court Palace in Richmond-Upon-Thames, Greater London. Wiggins won this event to take his fourth Olympic gold medal, but the first on the road... only a few days after completing the Tour de France on the Champs Elysées wearing the yellow jersey.

  • Bradley Wiggins unforgettable win

    London – 1 August 2012: untouchable in the time trial, crowned Olympic champion for the fourth time in his career, but the first time on the road, Great Britain’s Bradley Wiggins triumphant before his home crowd after winning with a 42-second lead over Germany’s Tony Martin at the end of the 44km race. He raised his arms and continued in the clamour to Hampton Court Palace where he was awarded his gold medal.

  • Bradley Wiggins untouchable on the road

    London – 1 August 2012: On the track, Great Britain’s Bradley Wiggins is a three-time Olympic gold medallist in the individual and team pursuit, and six-time world champion. On the road, he had just won the Tour de France. Supported by a host of people, he broadly dominated the individual time trial over the 44km route in the South West of London, finishing in a time of 50:39.54, some 42 seconds ahead of Germany’s Tony Martin to win his fourth title and his seventh medal in three Olympic Games.

  • Wrestling: Ghasem Rezaei was crowned Olympic champion in the 96kg Greco-Roman event

    London - 7 August 2012: Iran’s Ghasem Gholamreza Rezaei (in red) faces Russia’s Rustam Totrov in the final of the Greco-Roman wrestling 96kg category at the ExCeL Arena. Rezaei won 2-0 (2-0, 1-0), taking one of Iran’s three gold medals in wrestling at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

  • Wrestling: Ghasem Rezaei's euphoria at his victory

    London - 7 August 2012: Iran’s Ghasem Gholamreza Rezaei is knocked over by his coach on the mat at the ExCel Arena after his 2-0 (2-0, 1-0) victory in the final of the Greco-Roman wrestling 96kg category against Russia’s Rustam Totrov. Rezaei took one of Iran’s three gold medals in wrestling at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

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