Rio de Janeiro Bid For The 2016 Summer Olympics - Bid Concept

Bid Concept

According to the Rio de Janeiro bid committee, the bid's concept was based on four principles—technical excellence, experience of a lifetime, transformation, and supporting the Olympic and Paralympic Movements—highlighting the city's celebration lifestyle, as seen on its promotional video (called PassionC). The 2016 Summer Olympics and Paralympics will embed the Games in society as a catalyst for social integration, through programs for job generation, education, community outreach, volunteerism, training and up-skilling initiatives. The campaign also focused on youth and the fact that South America never hosted the Olympic Games, considering it to be a "self affirmation" of the Brazilian people. Rio de Janeiro integrated economic, environmental and social elements into its "Green Games for a Blue Planet" vision and planted 2386 seedlings to offset 716 tons of carbon emitted over the two years of campaign. Athletes and spectators will enjoy good climatic conditions in Rio de Janeiro, where mild southern hemisphere winter with absence of heavy rainfall provides favorable atmosphere for athletic performance. Average midday temperature of 24.2 °C (75.6 °F) is predicted during the proposed dates for the Games, with temperatures ranging from 18.9 °C (66.0 °F) to 28.1 °C (82.6 °F) and humidity levels of 66.4%.

The visual identity of the candidature consisted of a logo and a slogan, which were applied in marketing moves during the campaign. Designed by Ana Soter and selected among four finalists by a special jury, the logo was unveiled during the 2007 Brazilian Olympic Awards, held at the Municipal Theater of Rio de Janeiro, on December 17, 2007. The Sugarloaf Mountain was chosen to be the symbol as one of the city's most famous landmarks. According to the Rio de Janeiro bid committee, the design as a whole conveys a heart shape, representing Brazilian passion and enthusiasm for sports. First with only the inscription "Applicant city", the logo received the Olympic rings and the label "Candidate city" after being shortlisted. At midnight on January 1, 2009, the bid's slogan "Live your passion" was launched as part of the New Year's celebrations, which was attended by nearly two million people. According to the Rio de Janeiro bid committee, the slogan reflected the Brazilian's way of getting passionately involved in whatever they do. It was projected onto the Rio de Janeiro 2016-themed Ferris wheel after the countdown to the beginning of 2009. The structure erected on Copacabana beach to promote the candidature was 36 m (118 ft 1 in) high, weighed 80 tonnes (180,000 lb) and had 24 gondolas for 144 people.

Rio de Janeiro previously hosted major sporting, business and cultural events. On the sporting front, these events included World Cups and World Championships in many Olympic sports, as well as regional championships. From July 13 to July 29, 2007, the city successfully staged the 15th and largest ever edition of the Pan American Games (over 5,650 athletes competing in 34 sports) and the accompanying Parapan American Games (over 1,150 athletes competing in 10 sports). Rio de Janeiro hosted the 1950 FIFA World Cup and is going to host the 2014 FIFA World Cup, just two years before the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games, which includes upgrades to security, telecommunications and tourism infrastructure. The 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup will also be organised by Brazil and used as a test event for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The proposed competition schedule spreads medals across the entire program with two peaks at the weekends, being similar to the 2008 Summer Olympics program. The period proposed by the Rio de Janeiro bid committee to stage the 2016 Summer Olympics is from Friday, August 5, to Sunday, August 21, 2016. It is also proposed that the 2016 Summer Paralympics begin on the Independence Day of Brazil, Wednesday, September 7, and last until Sunday, September 18.