Rio de Janeiro 2016 celebrated World Environment Day Friday by hosting two events. The Olympic Wood was inaugurated when 107 trees of a native Atlantic Forest species were planted next to the Shooting Center at the Deodoro Sports Complex, and in Barra da Tijuca a new sewage treatment plant that will benefit one million people, began operations.
The Olympic Wood is Rio 2016’s tribute to World Environment Day, said a press release, reaffirming the environmental commitment of Rio de Janeiro’s Olympic project. The trees were planted on a site across from the Shooting Center at the Deodoro Sports Complex, which was built for the Rio 2007 Pan American Games and is one of the Rio 2016 sports venues.
Carlos Nuzman, Rio 2016 President, said Rio 2016 is focused on improving the environment, the quality of life and the economy. “The three levels of government and other authorities have provided guarantees that all building work for Rio 2016 will comply with international norms and protocols related to planning and environmental protection. The Olympic Wood reinforces this commitment, and the tribute to the IOC members represents the integration of our environmental project with the ideals of the Olympic Movement”, he said.
According to the press release the opening of the sewage plants in Barra da Tijuca is an important part of the clean-up plan presented in Rio de Janeiro’s Candidature File. The R$460 million project is capable of treating 2,500 litres of sewage per second, benefiting one million people.
As part of Rio 2016’s bid the Barra da Tijuca Zone will host 19 sports competitions as well as the Olympic Village, International Broadcast Center, and Main Press Center.
Rio 2016’s sustainability and environment program is focused on four pillars – water conservation, renewable energy, carbon-neutral Games, and waste management and social responsibility.
In May Rio 2016 announced that it will offset all the carbon emitted from its bid campaign by planting 2,386 trees in the Pedra Branca National Park and at facilities including Maria Lenk Aquatic Park and Deodoro Sports Complex.
