Just days before the host city of the 2016 Summer Olympic Games is announced, two of the four bid cities – Chicago and Rio – are getting a boost.
Wednesday President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama are hosting an event on the South Lawn of the White House with the White House Office on Olympic, Paralympic and Youth Sport, Chicago 2016, and the United States Olympic Committee, to promote Chicago’s bid.
They are being joined by schoolchildren from local DC area schools to discuss the ideals of the Olympic movement and the Obama administration’s commitment to service and expanding access to healthy, constructive activities like sports for the country’s children.
Meanwhile Rio de Janeiro’s bid got a boost when Rio played host last weekend to several sports competitions at facilities that would be used should the city host the 2016 Games.
The Deodoro Sports Complex, built for the Rio 2007 Pan American Games and one of the proposed Rio 2016 venues, hosted the men’s and women’s Modern Pentathlon World Cup Finals.
On Sunday, Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas – the proposed venue for the Rio 2016 rowing and flat-water canoe/kayak competitions – received the Naval School Regatta, reportedly the most traditional rowing competition in Rio. Also, the city’s central streets were transformed into a circuit for the National City Cycling Cup.
Carlos Arthur Nuzman, Rio 2016 President said, “this weekend has again underlined Rio’s passion for sport and ability to host successful sporting events that celebrate up and coming talent and inspire young people, many of whom dream of competing in Rio in 2016”.
