Former Volunteers Applying for Rio; Olympic Tourism Campaign

(ATR) A large number of former Olympic volunteers are applying to serve for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

According to a release from the IOC, 60,000 people have applied to volunteer in Rio with 60 percent having participated in some form of volunteering in the past.

"I registered for Rio 2016 on the first day possible," London 2012 volunteer Ian Krenshaw told the IOC.

"In London, I was a workforce team leader in the Athletes’ Village. It was the best month of my life, being surrounded by such positivity in all respects."

China leads the world in foreign registrations, having hosted the 2008 Olympics and 2014 Youth Olympic Games. The IOC says interest in Russia and Great Britain, the last two Olympic hosts, is high as well.

Rio 2016 launched its volunteer application process two weeks ago, calling for 70,000 "heroes" of the 2016 Olympics and Paralympics.

Tourism Agency Releases Olympic Strategy

Embratur, the Brazilian state tourism board, said its international Olympic campaign will be called "Brazil Sensational Olympic."

Embratur president Vicente Neto released the campaign Thursday along with Minister of Tourism Vinicius Lages. Neto said the campaign will model Embratur’s "Goal to Brazil" campaign ahead of the 2014 World Cup.

From 2012 to 2014, the "Goal to Brazil" campaign targeted 17 countries to increase tourism to Brazil.

"There were more than $ 162 million generated in business for five events of the 2nd phase of the ‘Goal To Brazil,’ attended by 1700 tourism professionals," Nieto said at the launch.

The announcement did not say which countries the "Brazil Sensational Olympic" campaign will target.

Since Embratur is not an Olympic rights holder it is unclear if the campaign name will remain due to IOC rules. The IOC and Rio 2016 did not immediately respond to requests for clarification.

Written by Aaron Bauer

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