After Rio was eliminated from the race to host 2004 Olympic Games, the General Assembly of the Brazilian Olympic Committee, composed of the Confederations of all Olympic Sports resolved in a unanimous voting to waive the opportunity to try again in 2008 to compete with other cities to host the Pan American Games in 2007. The successful delivery of the largest sport event in the Americas, and the second largest sport event in the world, could prepare Brazil to win the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Once Rio prevailed over San Antonio to host the Pan American Games, the Brazilian Olympic Committee resumed the Brazilian Olympic project, this time aiming at 2012 Games. In July 2003, the BOC Assembly chose Rio de Janeiro, instead of São Paulo, to compete for Brazil with the other applicant cities.

Again Rio was eliminated, but the bids for 2004 and 2012 were understood as a process that was constantly evolving, in which the strengths were enhanced and the weaknesses improved and corrected to assure, later on, the organization of a new attempt to become a candidate city.
On August 25, 2006, BOC Executive Committee decided to proposed to the Assembly to present Rio as an applicant city for 2016. This proposal was approved by oral vote, just a little more than two years after Rio’s bid for 2012 Games had been disqualified. At that time, the delivery of the Pan American Games paved the way for a new attempt at making the Brazilian Olympic project come true. This vision proved to be correct as Rio was awarded the right to host 2016 Games. 

All candidate cities were compelled to submit sound technical proposals and this is precisely what Rio did. Other decisive issues were the unity between the three levels of government, the fact that the Olympic Games had never been held in South America and the Brazilian people well known worldwide for its special way of celebrating sport. Additionally, the International Olympic Committee understood what the power of transformation of these Games would mean to Rio, Brazil and South America. To the Olympic and Paralympic Movements this decision represented the opening of a new and promising frontier, and the possibility of inspiring 65 million youths under 18 years of age in Brazil and 180 in the whole continent.

The Rio 2016 Organising Committee handles the planning and operation of the Games. For this reason, it counts on a budget of R$7.4 billion. This total is the sum of the predicted value in the Candidature File, corrected by inflation accumulated during this period, as well as the resultant growth of the inclusion of four new sports. In addition, the costs of new technologies have been added, which could not have been foreseen at the time of the Candidature File, as well as extra security expenses and funding for enjoyment of the Olympic Village.

They are private resources, which will be collected by the Committee during the Olympic journey. The values foreseen in the dossier of the Candidature File as a government contribution is not part of this budget, but were updated and incorporated into the Matrix of Responsibilities.

The Organising Committee is not responsible for any building works. The costs of building works for venues and infrastructure are managed by the three levels of government. 

The Organizing Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Rio 2016 is a private not for profit sport association formed by the Brazilian Olympic Confederations, the Brazilian Olympic Committee and Brazilian Paralympic Committee. It was assigned the mission of promoting, organizing and delivering the Olympic and Paralympic Games Rio 2016, following the guidelines of the Host City Contract, the International Olympic Committee, the International Olympic Committee and of the World Anti-Doping Agency and complying with provisions of the Brazilian law, the Olympic Charter and the IPC Manual.

The IOC will ensure the regular celebration of the Olympic Games, encourage and support a responsible concern with the environment, promote sustainable development in sport and demand compliance by the Olympic Games with these tenets.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is the higher authority of the Olympic Movement. Acting as a catalyst of the collaboration between all branches of the Olympic Family, National Olympic Committees, International Sport Federations, athletes, Organizing Committees of Olympic Games, sponsors, broadcast rightsholders and UN agencies, the IOC develops a full series of programs and projects to fulfill its mission of promoting an integrated sport and education culture, guided by its vision of contributing to the construction of a better world through sport and protection of the excellence, friendship and respect values.

The Brazilian Paralympic Committee organizes and directs the participation of Brazilian athletes in the Paralympic Games Rio 2016.

All the candidate cities to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games sign an agreement with the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The Host City Contract, which is later on ratified by the awarded city and by the National Olympic Committee of the host country, states in detail the rights and obligations of the parties involved in Games organization, setting the basis for the partnership that constitutes the foundation for the work of the Organizing Committee with the International Olympic Committee, the International Paralympic Committee and their partners. In the candidature phase, the three government levels – federal, state and municipal - also offered several guarantees to the IOC. The IOC monitors the fulfillment of these commitments through the IOC interlocutor in Games organization, that is, Rio 2016 Organizing Committee which, on its turn, has permanent relations with the Public Olympic Authority and the three government levels. 

Among the four finalists of the process of selection of the host city of 2016 Games, Rio de Janeiro had the largest number of competition venues that were fully ready. Currently, 47% of the venues required to stage the event already exist and are in operation. Several of these venues were developed or remodeled for the Pan and Parapan American Games Rio 2007. Another 25% will be temporary venues.

Ten competition venues will be built, which is equivalent to 28% of the venues required to stage Rio 2016 Games, and will become a permanent legacy of the Games. Each one of such venues is grounded on a sound commercial plan capable of assuring their long term sustainability, contributing to the development of Olympic and Paralympic sport and to an increased participation of society as a whole.

The most significant structural project of the sport legacy of Rio’s candidature is the Olympic Training Center (COT). The COT joins two venues existing since Rio 2007 and several others still to be built and which will become part of the Olympic Park of Rio 2016 Games. After the Games, the COT will be the Brazilian and continental training reference. The long term use of the COT will be assured by resources from a neighboring commercial venture that at Games time will host the International Broadcasting Center, the Main Press Center and a hotel.

Another significant legacy will be the Deodoro Radical Park where the cycling (BMX and Mountain bike) and canoe (slalom) venues will be built. After the Games, this venue will become a radical sport center strategically located in one of the most densely populated and youngest regions of Rio de Janeiro. As a legacy the Radical Park facilities will be added to those of the COT, generating opportunities for training in the same sports of the Games, with the possibility of expansion to other radical disciplines. 

Among the four finalist cities in the selection process to host the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Rio de Janeiro was the city that had the largest number of sports venues ready. Of the venues necessary for staging the event, 45 per cent already existed, several of them developed or renovated for the Rio 2007 Pan and Parapan American Games. Another 21 per cent will be temporary.

Ten competition venues will be built, equivalent to 27 per cent of the necessary venues for Rio 2016, and will remain as a permanent legacy of the Games. Each one is anchored to a solid business plan, guaranteeing its long-term sustainability and contributing to the development of Olympic and Paralympic sport and a greater community participation.

The structural project of the most significant sporting legacy of the Rio 2016 Candidature File is the Olympic Training Centre (COT). Barra Olympic Park will be transformed into a large sporting and educational complex designed for students in the public school network and high-level athletes with use divided between social projects and events. The shared use with high-level sport was idealised and will be performed in partnership with the Brazilian Olympic Committee (COB), holder of knowledge for the design and management of activities connected to this segment of sporting practice. Besides serving as a training centre for top athletes, some venues will be able to host international sporting competitions.

Of the nine venues that make up the Olympic Park, seven will be maintained after 2016: Carioca Arenas 1, 2 and 3, Maria Lenk Aquatics Centre, Rio Olympic Arena, Rio Olympic Velodrome and the Olympic Tennis Centre. An Olympic-standard athletics track and two beach volleyball courts will be added after the Games, as well as accommodation for high and base-level athletes. The long-term use of the COT will be guaranteed through proceeds from neighbouring business enterprises, which during the Rio 2016 Games will house the International Broadcasting Centre, the Main Press Centre and a hotel.

Another important legacy will be the X-Park in Deodoro, which will host the cycling venues (BMX and mountain bike) and canoe (slalom). After the Rio 2016 Games, the venue will become an extreme sports centre, strategically located in one of the most densely populated youth areas in Rio de Janeiro. The X-Park venues will be built together with the COT, providing training opportunities in the same Games sports with the possibility of expanding to other extreme disciplines. 

The Organising Committee, together with the three levels of government, have been thorough in guaranteeing that sufficient numbers of hotel rooms, guesthouses and apartments for seasonal rent are available to meet the large demand during the Games period.

From the Candidature File to the staging of the Games, the city has seen the offer of hospitality grow by over 50 per cent, which also means an improvement in the quality of the carioca hotel industry, which has only been made possible thanks to the staging of the Rio 2016 Games.

The transportation strategy was developed aimed at ensuring that all those who are watching, taking part or working in the Olympic and Paralympic Games will be offered safe, fast and reliable transport options.

Investments will be made that will result in a High Capacity Transportation Ring that twill comprise a completely renovated system of trains, a renovated metro system and a new BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) system. This network will have the integration option available in several stations, and will connect all the four Games Zones to key areas of the city, transforming the urban environment and creating a legacy that will have a significant social legacy.  

In partnership with the private sector the state administration has been developing a quality project aimed at the cleaning of the Guanabara Bay that will be the target of investments until 2016. 

The three levels of government will work tirelessly with the objective of guaranteeing a safe and pleasant atmosphere for the Games. The Games will act as a large catalyst for long-term improvement in the safety systems of the city of Rio de Janeiro, representing a genuine opportunity for transformation.

Planning of the security operation for the Games was based on a full safety and related risk assessment, developed by international specialists in risk and safety management, in cooperation with Brazilian authorities.

The experience of Brazil in guaranteeing safety at large events in the city, such as the Brazilian stage of the Athens 2004 Olympic Torch Relay, the famous carioca Carnival and the New Year’s Eve celebrations, will guarantee the delivery of a successful and amicable security operation.

The criteria and conditions for the inclusion of sports, disciplines and events in the Olympic programme is established in Article 46 of the Olympic Charter, under the authority of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

For the Rio 2016 Games programme, the new sports included are rugby, golf, paracanoe and paratriathlon. 

The Rio 2016 Organising Committee has established a ticket and promotion policy that will ensure not only full arenas, but also access to the stadium for all parts of society as well as Games clients. The ticket sales programme is conducted in draw phases, offering equal chances to buy high-demand tickets, followed by online sales and ticket office sales. A wide distribution network and flexible opening times will make Games tickets available to everyone, in an organised, fair and credible manner.

Visit the webpages below and consult the Ticket Guides to obtain further information:

Tickets for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games - www.rio2016.com/tickets/findoutmore

Tickets for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games - www.rio2016.com/en/paralympics

By its very nature, the organization of the Olympic Games is multidisciplinary, involving an immense variety of areas and expertise. There are some areas that require specific knowledge of the sport universe, however there are functions that may be performed by professionals with experience in different segments, as for example Corporate Finance or IT. In other sectors, specialized staff will be needed as in the case of Technology and Accommodation. People who are competent in their careers, passionate about the values represented by the Games, with personal characteristics of flexibility, determination and willingness to learn are quick to adapt to the project.