(ATR) The May Day holiday could make the travel easier for the IOC Evaluation Commission for the 2016 Olympics as it travels close to 75 km across Rio de Janeiro for a venue tour.
Traffic volume in the city is way down as the 13-member commission begins its journey from Copacabana. The normally traffic-jammed boulevard along the beach is open only to pedestrians, as is the custom for Sundays and holidays.
Sunny skies with warm temperatures should hold for the day.
The commission will visit Fort Copacabana overlooking the venue for triathlon, beach volleyball and the marathon swim. From there the group makes the trek by bus to the Barra de Tijuca area, considered the heart of the Rio de Janeiro bid.
The booming western suburb, about 20 km from the center of Rio, will be the site of the Olympic and Media Villages. It is also the biggest cluster of venues in the Rio plan for 2016.
The commission will stop for a photo opportunity at the Maria Lenk Aquatic Centre. The venue was built for the 2007 Pan American Games and would serve the sport in 2016.
Lunch is scheduled for Joao Havelange Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, about a 25 km trip. The stadium, another legacy of the Pan Ams, is the venue for track and field.
The commission will head to nearby Maracana Stadium, the football arena where opening and closing ceremonies would take place.
Football great Pele, an ambassador for the bid, is expected to join the IOC commission to kick a ball around the fabled pitch.
The commission gets a look at the Rio metro system with a stop at the station for Marina da Gloria, the in-town venue for sailing.
The IOC panel is in the third day of its inspection. Its visit ends Saturday. From Rio the group travels to Madrid for the final stop on the four-city tour. The IOC visited Tokyo and Chicago in April.
Thursday night members of the IOC commission were entertained at a dinner hosted by Brazilian President Lula. The venue was a pavilion at Sugar Loaf, overlooking Rio de Janeiro.
Written by Ed Hula.
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