(ATR) Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Paes tells inernational media the 2016 Games will provide the "greatest legacy ever from an Olympics."
Paes spoke at the second World Press Briefing, a gathering of over 100 international media personnel, at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro.
In his presentation, the mayor elaborated on the "meaning of the Games," and the "Games of economy in public resources."
Paes made references to the nature of the Games, citing Seoul, Barcelona, and Beijing as the cities Rio looked to emulate to "transform" the city.
"The reason you want to bring the Games to Rio is not because of our quality," Paes told the assembled media personnel.
"The main reason is, if the games are about sport, gathering nations, and transformation, then the place to go is Rio de Janeiro."
Paes delivered a rundown on the $16.3 billion budget of the Rio 2016 Olympics, stressing $9.3 billion is derived from the private sector.
The Organizing Committee has a budget of $3 billion all privately financed. Olympic venues have a budget of $2.8 billion, and legacy projects for the Olympics have a $10.5 billion budget.
Some of the legacy projects have been completed early, including the Praca Da Bandiera Resevoir, a renovation of the port of Rio de Janeiro, and the installation of 62 miles of Bus Rapid Transit lines.
"We used the games as an excuse to get lots of things done [in the city]."
In 2011, only 18% of Rio’s population had access to "high capacity transpiration," and that number has grown to 63% in the past three years.
Paes guaranteed that all venues for the 2016 Olympics would be delivered on time and on budget. According to his presentation, 55% of the venues are complete, or are being "adapted" in Rio de Janeiro.
An excess of 10,000 hotel rooms have been delivered bringing the total to 37,000 for the Games.
"We do not want to be compared to the infrastructure of London. London did not change very much, but Rio expects to be a different city after the Games."
Paes took particular pride in a power point slide that showed the London Olympic Stadium 2 years before the Games side by side with Maracana, where Opening and Closing Ceremonies will take place. The London stadium was unfinished two years before. Maracana, site of the 2014 World Cup Final, is ready to go for 2016.
Written by Aaron Bauer in Rio de Janeiro
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