Rio 2016 Legacy Extends Westward

(ATR) Brazilian Minister of Sport George Hilton opened a new high performance sport center in the state of Acre on Jul. 4.

The center, located in the state capital of Rio Branco, has a budget of $1.6 million, which was raised by the municipal, state, and federal governments according to a report in Globoesporte.

Acre is the westernmost state of Brazil bordering Peru and Bolivia. Rio Branco is 1,858 miles northwest from Rio de Janeiro.

"The idea is that not only Rio de Janeiro benefits from the Olympics," George Hilton said, according to Globoesporte.

"We have an effort by the state government, municipal and now federal so that together we can form a partnership and equip not only the city of Rio Branco, but all the cities of Acre. This is the legacy we are leaving for sports, [creating] a national training network so that we can form a new generation of athletes in the future."

Training in handball, futsal, volleyball, basketball, gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, badminton, table tennis, wrestling, lifting weight, goalball and fencing will be offered at the new sports center, which is expected to be open in seven months.

Archbishop Attacked

As security concerns come into focus ahead of the 2016 Games, Rio de Janeiro archbishop Orani Tempesta was carjacked on Jul. 5.

"Four heavily armed bandits blocked the car, declared a robbery and took the [archbishop’s driver] hostage," a statement from Cardinal Tempesta’s office read.

"He was freed after a short distance, but the bandits made off with the car, as well as personal belongings of all the occupants. Despite the fright, no one was injured."

Despite winning the Olympic Games in 2009, crime rates in the city have stalled or increased in recent years. Amid concerns, a report from Reuters on Jun. 24 showed that Rio 2016 plans to use 20,000 more security personnel than the London 2012 Olympics.

Crowd Vote for Flagbearer

The Brazilian Olympic Committee (COB) is considering a fan vote to determine the flagbearer for the 2016 Games.

"We are discussing this very subject, and we have some prerequisites to be flag bearer as someone who will participate in the Games," Marcus Vinicius Freire, CEO of the Brazilian Olympic Committee, told Globoesporte.

The COB said the vote at this point is very much only a "possibility," and would consist of preselected athletes chosen by the Olympic committee rather than a write-in campaign.

Rio at PASO

Rio 2016 is in Toronto for the Pan American Sports Organization General Assembly.

Rio 2016 president Carlos Nuzman along with AgbertoGuimarães and Mario Cilenti will give a presentation on the progress of the Games to PASO executives on the eve of the 2015 Pan American Games.

Written by Aaron Bauer

20 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is AroundTheRings.com, for subscribers only.