By Tom Degun at the Lenexpo Exhibition Complex in St Petersburg

Deodoro Olympic ParkMay 29 - Rugby sevens will take place in the Deodoro Park, along with seven other sports, when it returns to the Olympics after a 92-year absence at Rio 2016.


The announcement means rugby will take its place alongside basketball, canoeing, cycling, equestrian, hockey, modern pentathlo,and shooting at the Deodoro Zone on the city's outskirts.

The updated plans will see the Deodoro Olympic Park host a 10,000 seat Hockey Centre, while rugby sevens and modern pentathlon will share a temporary purpose built 20,000 capacity arena for rugby sevens and modern pentathlon. 

In addition basketball preliminary matches are also due to take place in the Deodoro Arena.

The updated proposals are subject to formal approval by the relevant International Federations but all are expected to approve them following positive between them and Rio 2016 in St Petersburg this week.

"We are very pleased with the significant progress made regarding the Deodoro Olympic Park," said Rio 2016 President Carlos Nuzman.

"Without doubt, Deodoro will be a very vibrant, exciting and atmospheric element of the Rio 2016 Games.

"We look forward to continuing to work very closely with our International Federation partners, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) to deliver our shared goals of technical excellence and outstanding spectator experience.

"I would like to thank my colleagues at the International Federations for their great spirit of partnership and cooperation, and for sharing their expertise with us."

The International Federations also expressed their approval for the plan.
 
IF leaders 2The International Federations welcomed plans Rio 2016 plans for the Deodoro Olympic Park at the announcement in St Petersburg

"We are encouraged with the highly positive discussions with the Rio 2016 Organising Committee regarding the Deodoro Zone, which is being proposed by Rio 2016 as the venue for the men's and women's Rugby Sevens events at the 2016 Games," said International Rugby Board (IRB) chief executive Brett Gosper.

Rugby, which will be appearing in the Games for the first time since Paris 1924, had origianlly be due to take place at Estádio São Januário, home of football club Vasco da Gama, only for that plan to be scrapped.

An alternative plan to move it to Estádio Olímpico João Havelange, which will host athletics during Rio 2016, also ran into difficulties.

"While the venue is ultimately subject to IRB Executive Board approval, the IRB is satisfied that Rio 2016's exciting plans to ensure that the Zone is an accessible and vibrant festival hub will deliver a great experience for the sports and for fans," said Gosper.

The International Hockey Federation (FIH), long-time critics of the plans Rio 2016 had for their sport, also claimed to be pleased.

"We had a really positive meeting with Rio 2016 today and we are confident that we will have a very good venue, and most importantly, a very successful Games," said FIH chief executive Kelly Fairweather.

International Union of Modern Pentathlon (UIPM) President Klaus Schorman, said: "We participated in an excellent meeting and I am pleased that all the things we have asked for have been fulfilled.

"We have to thank the Rio 2016 Organising Committee for fulfilling our dream."

It was during the IOC Coordination Commission meeting in February this year that it was confirmed Rio 2016 would have two Olympic Parks - with one located in Barra and the other in Deodoro.

Deodoro is the area of Rio with the highest proportion of young people under the age of 18.

In legacy mode, Deodoro will be host to a youth focused X Park containing BMX cycling and slalom canoeing.

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November 2012: Rugby sevens venue for Rio 2016 Olympics in doubt