Addressing a specially invited audience at the City Palace, Nuzman listed a series of improvements he claimed had been made since Rio was awarded the Games in October 2009, including imrpovements to the famous Maracana Stadium and the strengthening of security benefitting more than 300,000 people in 18 communities. 

Nuzman also claimed that the Games had led to an increased debate on sustainability and accessibility, growing interest in taking part in sport, the heightened touristic status of Rio de Janeiro and Brazil, the rediscovery and recognition of the country's culture, and the Brazilians' rising self-esteem.

"Today we already experience the transforming power of the Games," Nuzman told the audience.

"Undoubtedly the choice of Rio to host the 2016 competitions has been turning the eyes of the world towards the city and the country.

"I would like to reiterate my confidence that we will successfully fulfill our mission and that, in five years' time, we will deliver excellent Games that will be the evidence of sustainable transformation through sport."

Rio's city Government also gave an update of its Games preparation works and economist Maria Silvia Bastos Marques was sworn in by Mayor Eduardo Paes (pictured) as the head of the Municipal Olympic Company, the organisation in charge of coordinating all City Hall projects for the Olympic Games.

Other authorities in attendance included Brazil's House of Representatives speaker, Marco Maia; the head of the Olympic Public Authority (APO), Marcio Fortes; and the Rio de Janeiro State's secretary of Sport and Leisure, Marcia Lins.

Municipal Olympic Company executive director, Bernardo Carvalho, presented the progress of infrastructure works currently underway in the city of Rio de Janeiro, including offering an overview of how work is progressing at the Athletes' Village Park, the Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) system, Transcarioca, the Port Area, the Jacarepagua lagoons, the urbanisation programme Morar Carioca and the implementation of Experimental Olympic Schools.

"The Olympic Games means an opportunity to build a new future for Rio de Janeiro and Brazil," said Paes.

"It is time to take a step forward, time to show that cariocas [the inhabitants of Rio] can set targets and meet them.

"Five years out of the Games, we are one year ahead of schedule."

As she was sworn in, Marques, who is currently the President of insurers Icatu, outlined the priorities of her job.

She was formerly Rio de Janeiro city's Treasury secretary and has previosuly been the President of Brazilian steelmaker CSN and finance and planning director at BNDES, the national development bank.

"We will successfully achieve the transformation plan we have set out for Rio with the ultimate goal of leaving a permanent legacy to the city, transforming its physical structures services," she said.

"The Olympic Games project is for the city and that is why I believe Rio needs to experience the Games as a whole.

"And that is what I will be working for."

To read more about Rio's preparations for 2016 click here.

Contact the writerr of this story at [email protected]


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