(ATR) A Brazilian former tennis star says the legacy from the 2016 Olympic Tennis Center will be "game-changing" for the sport.
"The impact it will have on enthusiasm for tennis and in physical terms can be game-changing," Gustavo Kuerten told Rio 2016 in an interview.
Kuerten competed for Brazil in the 2000and 2004 Olympics, and is a member of the Rio 2016 Sport Advisory Committee.
Kuerten said that he believes the venue will be delivered on time, despite the schedule calling for completion in late 2015. Tennis will hold its test event in December 2015, only nine months before the Games.
"Seeing the stadium take shape inspires excitement, allowing us to visualize the matches that will be played there and bringing the Olympic dream closer to us."
Representatives from the International Tennis Federation were in Rio de Janeiro last week to monitor the progress. Executive vice president Juan Margets said, "Overall, it was very positive."
"[The venue] will be in a position to stage ATP 500 events and the women’s equivalents," Margets said about the venue’s legacy.
"Along with Parque Roca in Buenos Aires, it will be the major tennis facility on the continent."
The Olympic Tennis Center main court will seat 10,000 spectators, while two temporary stands will house 5,000 and 3,000 spectators on two courts. Seven other courts will be installed for the Games, with 250 temporary seats.
Written by Aaron Bauer
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