Rio 2016

MARTIAL ARTS IN THE OLYMPIC MOVEMENT: Taekwondo

Rio 2016 — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:59:14 -0200

Taekwondo is a traditional Korean martial art, which means "the way of kicking and punching". The origin of the art of Taekkyon (“foot-hand”) dates back to Korea's Three-Kingdom era (c.50 BC).

The evolution of taekwondo has made today’s version of the sport a lower limb kicking ballet. Although practitioners are allowed to use their fists to beat the competitor, attacks are mainly by kicking, taekwondo’s trademark.

It was only in the 20th. C, however, that this format became the most popular martial art in Korea.

MARTIAL ARTS IN THE OLYMPIC MOVEMENT: Boxing, Wrestling and Taekwondo

Rio 2016 — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:55:43 -0200

Together with Judo, Wrestling, Boxing and Taekwondo represent martial arts in the Olympic Movement. This week Rio 2016™ is paying homage to some of the most traditional sports in the Olympic programme.

Wrestling, divided into Men’s and Women’s Freestyle and Men’s Greco-Roman, is known as one of the world’s oldest competitive sports, as much as Athletics.

Notice – International contest for the selection of the Rio 2016™ Olympic Games golf course design

Rio 2016 — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:54:37 -0200

The Rio 2016™ Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games has completed the interview stage of the phase three in the international contest for the selection of the Rio 2016™ Olympic Games golf course design.

Rio 2016™ was extremely pleased with the high quality of the eight proposals submitted.

The contest winner and the design will be announced in March upon the visit of the International Olympic Committee to Rio de Janeiro for the fifth Rio 2016™ project review meeting.

Gentle way, maximum efficiency: Judo on the track to Rio 2016

Rio 2016 — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:47:51 -0200

After Swimming and Athletics specials, it is Judo turn. Part of the Olympic Programme since Tokyo 1964, the traditional sport of Japanese origin continues to gain followers in the entire planet and offers unforgettable stories in the greatest sporting event in the planet.

Mammadli and a country in kimono: the gold medal of Azerbaijan

Rio 2016 — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:45:13 -0200

The wrestling tradition in Azerbaijan, multi-medallist in boxing and Freestyle and Greco-Roman disciplines since its independence from Soviet Union, in 1991, started its expansion. Since Beijing 2008, the glow of the new Olympic champion made the population wear kimonos and turn its eyes to Elnur Mammadli’s Judo, who instantly became a star with the achievement.

His gold medal in the 66-73kg category and the bronze medal of Movlud Miraliyev (90-100kg) were Azerbaijan first podiums in the sport.

Fighting spirit: Cuba and the Judo tradition

Rio 2016 — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:44:14 -0200

The Republic of Cuba, insular territory of the Caribbean Sea, Central America, has few more than 11 million inhabitants. It is less than a third of the metropolitan area population of Tokyo, capital of Japan, home of Judo and the major power of the sport. Counting men and women, Cuban judokas are no more than 3,000. In the last edition of the Olympic Games, in Beijing 2008, from the seven weight categories, Cuban female athletes climbed the podium in four categories. Japonese female athletes climbed in five.

MARTIAL ARTS IN THE OLYMPIC MOVEMENT: Wrestling

Rio 2016 — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:37:02 -0200

Cave pictures dating back to the year 3000 BC attest it: with the exception of athletics, wrestling is recognised as the oldest competitive sport in the history of humankind. Running and fighting are part of human nature. No wonder they were included in the Olympic Movement at the inception of the Ancient Olympics.

Wrestling, whose disciplines are Free Wrestling and Greco-Roman, has been part of the Games since its first edition at Athens 1896 – with the exception of Paris 1900.

MARTIAL ARTS IN THE OLYMPIC MOVEMENT: Boxing

Rio 2016 — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:27:18 -0200

The 108th. anniversary of boxing as a sport that integrates the Olympic programme will be celebrated with a female touch. At London 2012 women will compete for medals for the first time in the “noble art”, one of the oldest types of sports.

The next edition of the Olympic Games will feature three weight categories: 48kg to 51kg, 57kg to 60kg, and 69kg to 75kg. Countries such as China, Ireland and Canada are the gold medal favourites. Their athletes have reached the top of the podium in the three categories, respectively, in the latest World Championship in 2010.

GAMES MAKERS: Regina Oliveira, Transport Director

Rio 2016 — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 12:21:48 -0200

“The greatest tangible legacy of the Rio 2016™ Olympic and Paralympic Games will be in transport”. Regina Oliveira summarizes with this sentence her responsibility and her work ahead of one of the most complex operations of the biggest sporting event in the planet.

Learn everything about the Recruitment of Sports Competition Leaders

Rio 2016 — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:15:32 -0200

This Monday 30 January the Rio 2016™ Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games has started the Recruitment Process of Sports Competition Leaders, highly qualified professionals who will be heading all the operation of the 28 Olympic and 22 Paralympic sports during the planet’s biggest event in 2016.

With an eye on the sports legacy for the country, the priority of the Rio 2016™ will be Brazilian professionals.