"Rio 2016 would benefit from FIFA World Cup investments as the city would be able to count on better roadways, new stadiums, new services, and enhanced infrastructure. Moreover, Rio could turn to an extensive pool of volunteers if it were awarded the right to host the Games," said Rogge during an interview to the "Chicago Tribune".

For Rogge, the IOC members in charge of selecting the 2016 Games host city are not likely to take the FIFA World Cup into account in deciding on a bidding city.

"I do not think the IOC members will associate a potential vote for 2016 with something scheduled to take place in 2014. We are talking about two different groups of votes, and I do not believe one might get in the way of the other," the IOC official said.

With 20 additional vehicles received from the Ministry of Health, SAMU (Mobile First-Aid Service) and the Fire Department First-Aid Brigade now count on a fleet of 152 ambulances.

As far as security is concerned, the Federal Government transferred on November 13 500 vehicles to the State Government; nearly 1,400 arms; 120 thousand units of ammunition; expert investigation materials; computer-aided information management system; and communication equipment, including encrypted radio sets and security cameras.

Used during the Pan American Games, the security equipment transferred to Rio Administration is estimated at R$ 132 million.

The Petrochemical Complex will be built over a 45 million square-meter area. More than two thousand direct jobs will be generated by the works in their initial stage and another 200 thousand job opportunities will be created along the five years Petrochemical Complex construction will take till completion. Thermoplastic resins and fuels will be produced there and this will encourage the establishment of consumption goods manufacturing plants once petrochemical products are the basic raw materials required to produce such goods. This project also aims at boosting the domestic production of petrochemical products by processing approximately 150 thousand barrels/day of heavy oil. Complex full structure start-up is scheduled for 2012.

The social component of this venture can already be felt in some of Petrobras actions. The state company is responsible for the project and has designed a local labor qualification program both for venture construction and for its operational stage. Petrobras is planning to qualify 30 thousand people in partnership with local city halls.

The environmental issues will also be carefully handled once there will be no waste dumping in the Guanabara Bay. The venture will be provided with US$ 200 million air pollution control equipment. Additionally, 6 million trees will be planted at river springs. 

The Rio 2007 Knowledge Transfer Seminar, internationally known as Debriefing, was carried out in Rio de Janeiro in early March with the objective of presenting the experience acquired with the carrying out of the Rio 2007 Pan American and Parapan American Games, transferring this knowledge to the daily routine of sports and event organizers.  The Seminar followed the model used by the International Olympic Committee for Olympic Games.  This was the first time the Debriefing was carried out in the entire history of the Pan American Games, being therefore one more legacy from Rio 2007.

At the time he delivered the kit to the ODEPA president, the COB and 2016 Rio Bid president emphasized the importance of the initiative.  "This is the first time in history that a continental debriefing is carried out.  This example could be followed by other Organizing Committees in other continents," stated Carlos Arthur Nuzman.  "The daily routine of the Organizing Committee of a big event is hectic and difficult and our great virtue was to be able to overcome obstacles.  This was the main reason for the success of Rio 2007," concluded Carlos Arthur Nuzman, exalting the importance of the Debriefing to convey the experiences acquired.

- We can show to the International Olympic Committee Members that Rio de Janeiro is getting prepared to host the 2016 Games – he stated.

For two whole hours of practice, the Olympic medalist talked about his career, presented his methods, some of the most important techniques and provided guidance on technical improvement.   “Not just today, but throughout the week they had an upgrade their competitors lack and will have a head start.  They had a chance to check out the different styles coaches coming from different schools and backgrounds”, he said. 

To 15 year-old Matheus Garcia, this Training Camp was critical for improved competition performance.  “I’ve learned a lot in just one week. Moves will be easier for me now when the time comes”,   said Pan American judo championship bronze medalist, in Colombia last year.  

During his visit Flávio Canto recalled that Brazil has a significant potential and junior athletes may become Olympic medalists within a short period of time.  Jorge Gomes Júnior, aged 14, is one of the many athletes dreaming about victory and support from friends at the Olympic Games 2016, most of all if Rio is elected to host the event.  “I’m training to get there, but before that I want to do my best in several championships”, reported three-time state championship pre-juvenile medalist.

The Olympic athlete also underlined the significance of sport to the consolidation of values in this phase. Influenced by the Samurai Code of Ethics, judo has principles that are reflected on the lives of these youths. “To these athletes this is the beginning of a long journey and every second must be used for additional learning”, he advises. 

Promoted by the Brazilian Olympic Committee (BOC), the Training Camp was sponsored by International Olympic Committee (IOC) Olympic Solidarity Program.

This is the third edition of the Youth Commonwealth Games, being now staged in Asia for the first time. More than one thousand athletes have entered the athletics, badminton, boxing, shooting, swimming, table tennis, weightlifting and wrestling championships. The competition is a preparation for the 2010 Common Wealth Games that will also be held in India.

Tessa Jowell was appointed Minister for the 2012 Olympics Games in June 2007, and is responsible for implementing all of the government’s Olympic programs. “It is a pleasure and an honor to meet the Rio 2016 Commission and exchange experiences and information. We are guardians of something very special, which is the Olympic legacy, and I am happy with the commitment of the Rio 2016 Commission to continue the work of the International Inspiration project. I cannot publicly support any Candidate City, but I was very impressed with what I saw during this visit. Rio de Janeiro is certainly capable of holding the Olympic Games,” she said.

The president of Rio 2016, Carlos Arthur Nuzman, emphasized that the London and Rio de Janeiro plans share the goal of harnessing sport to inspire young people: “As a developing country and one that represents a continent with a large young population, Rio de Janeiro’s bid identifies perfectly with International Inspiration. The meeting with Tessa Jowell was important for us to understand how London won the bid for the 2012 Games, and the progress that the city has made since then. We have learned valuable lessons.”

Mrs. Jowell formally opened the first International Inspiration center in Recife, northeast Brazil, on Monday 3 November, during her official visit to the country.

The Brazilian Olympic Committee (COB) project, which is a partnership with the Ministry of Sports, was selected among several other social sporting programs of National Olympic Committees from all over the world.  Edgar Hubner, General Director of the School Olympics and COB Event Manager, and Patrícia Kowalewski, COB Event Supervisor, will travel to the Malaysian capital.  In Kuala Lumpur, members of the COB will showcase the biggest Brazilian student sporting event and study projects from other nations until the end of the congress.

“As a professor, it is a great honor to share positive experiences with representatives from other countries.  School Olympics are an example of a successful Brazilian initiative.  The Olympic Spirit finds an ally to promote integration and social inclusion.  Education will also be one of the event’s main topics, with support for physical education teachers, distribution of material about doping, raising awareness of sexually transmitted diseases, being some of the key issues”, Hubner declared.  “Our selection shows that COB is in tune with the IOC vision of renewing the Olympic Movement by encouraging sporting events for youth”.

During the event, which takes place every two years, COB representatives will present “School Olympics – the Olympic future of Brazil through Olympic transformation”.  In order to merit such a distinguished space at the Congress, School Olympics was approved in the subcategory “How school physical education programs can meet youth’s needs?”  Besides the subcategory, there are 19 others, divided into 5 main categories:  “Physical Activity for Youth” (where the COB project was entered), “The Role of Sports for All in a technological world”, “Sport for All and Social Justice”,  “Sport for All initiatives for the Olympic and sport Movement”.  The previous edition of the event, held in 2006, was also attended by COB members, since Edgar Hubner and Event Supervisor Ana Paula Ferreira were in Cuba.

Among the highlights of the Brazilian project are themes such as accommodation, facilities, food provision, transportation and the bid dossier of the host city.  Another factor which interested the Olympic community is the organizational structure of the School Olympics which is a joint effort between COB, the Federal Government – through the Ministry of Sports – and an important media group, the Globo Organization, an original formula on the international scene.

After the presentation at the Sports for All Congress, Edgar Hubner and Patrícia Kowaleski will leave Malaysia for João Pessoa, the  Paraíba state capital which will host the final stage of the 2008 School Olympics; the event will witness a record participation of 3.300 children (2.850 athletes), aged 15 to 17.  The biggest school sporting event in Brazil will reunite participants from 22 states and 825 public and private schools.  The first cycle of the School Olympics will end after 10 days of competition in 9 sports (track and field, basketball, futsal, handball, judo, swimming, table tennis, volleyball and chess) and some intense cultural programming.

Created in 2005, the School Olympics provide a high standard of services (accommodation, transportation, facilities) for the participants.  Physical education teachers will also have a highlighted role since sports play an important part in education in public and private schools around the country.

 About 200 people participated in the conference, which facilitated the exchange of experiences and specialized knowledge. Rio 2016’s Cilenti spoke about the 2007 Rio Pan American Games, in which sponsors performed a very important role. Cilenti was sub-secretary general for operations of the 2007 Rio Pan American Games.

“One of the fundamental guarantees for the success of the Pan American Games was the support we had from renowned companies, like Atos Origin and Swiss Timing,” Cilenti said. “These companies, which are also Olympic Games sponsors, supplied us with technology and a specialized workforce, and this legacy is important for Rio de Janeiro and Brazil to be able to host other large sports events, like the 2016 Olympic Games.”

For Cilenti, the Pan American Games sparked the interest of international companies by demonstrating Brazil’s economic situation, its extensive market for publicity and the many perspectives of a developing nation. “The Rio de Janeiro bid to host the 2016 Olympic Games could be the opening of a door to a vast market, not just in Brazil, but in all of South America,” he said.

Representatives of the 2012 London Olympic Games, the 2010 Vancouver and the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games, and the 2010 Singapore Youth Olympic Games were also present at the London event.

The support of champion athletes is a major element in Rio 2016’s official presentations. Pelé was applauded at the assembly of the Olympic Committees of the Americas when he revealed that the only frustration in his three-time World Cup winning career was not to have competed in the Olympic Games. At the Asian Olympic Committee meeting, Adriana Behar, seven-time beach volleyball world champion, spoke of her pride in having two Olympic silver medals.

“Athletes support the Rio 2016 campaign because they understand the importance of this project. I was inspired to play basketball by seeing my idols compete in the Olympic Games. Giving Brazil and South America the chance to stage this event for the first time will guarantee that thousands of young people will have experiences that only sport can provide,” explained Janeth, four-time WNBA (Women's National Basketball Association) champion.

In addition to Janeth, the Rio 2016 team in Istanbul includes President Carlos Arthur Nuzman and Secretary General Carlos Roberto Osório. The governor of Rio de Janeiro, Sérgio Cabral, mayor-elect of Rio de Janeiro, Eduardo Paes and the Ministry of Sport’s Djan Madruga. Also attended the event, demonstrating once more the project’s backing at all three levels of government. “The union of athletes and political leaders with the Rio bid commission reinforces the seriousness and quality of the project. Together, we will show that Rio de Janeiro and Brazil is worthy of hosting the 2016 Olympic Games,” said Nuzman.

“I am honoured to be here today to outline our proposal for the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio. The Rio 2016 Bid Committee and all levels of government are committed to an active partnership with the Paralympic Movement to deliver a legacy that goes beyond Brazil and extends across the world,” said Carlos Roberto Osorio.

“The IPC is looking forward to reviewing Rio’s proposal for the Paralympic Games in detail. Rio and Brazil have a strong, long-standing relationship with the Paralympic Movement – proven by their exceptional organisation of the Parapan American Games in 2007,” said Xavier Gonzalez of the IPC.

Mr. Osorio said: “The 2007 Parapan American Games in Rio were the first to be given the same status as the Pan American Games and to use the same facilities. We are keen to build on the success of these Games and continue to foster the development of the Paralympic Movement in Brazil, South America and beyond. Indeed, we firmly believe that Rio’s Olympic Training Centre (OTC) will be one of the most significant sporting legacies from the Rio 2016 Games, acting as a major regional sports hub for all athletes in South America and the world.”