(ATR) Just days after she was named chair of the IOC Coordination Commission for Rio 2016, Nawal El Noutawakel makes an unannouncedvisit to the new Olympic City.
El Moutawakel ended a three-day, under the radar visit to Rio de Janeiro Jan.19. She was tapped for the Rio post six days ago. But in its announcement of her appointment last week, the IOC failed to mention the obviously imminent trip to Rio de Janeiro.
Accompanying her were IOC Olympic Games Executive Director plus IOC staff member Jennifer O’Brien and design, planning and control consultant Grant Thomas.
“There is no time to lose when it comes to the organization of the Games. Rio 2016 is working fast and wonderful Olympic Games will be delivered if this pace is kept. We are all sailing on the same boat”, Nawall is quoted in a release from the organizing committee.
“We are here to help and stage a highly successful event,” she said.
The small IOC group toured proposed venues, met with government leaders and was briefed on community policing programs in a Rio favela.
Photos of the visit released by Rio 2016 show El Moutawakel mingling with young people and playing the drums during her visit to the Pavão-Pavãozinho community with Rio 2016 President Carlos Nuzman and Rio State Governor Sergio Cabral.
Sports minister Orlando Silva and mayor Eduardo Paes were involved in the meetings.
The full 18-member IOC Coordination Commission is to visit in May, dates not revealed.
Felli led another small team from the IOC to Rio just a month after the city won the IOC vote for 2016 last October.
Nuzman says the visit by his IOC colleague this weekindicates a new direction for the city now that the bid is won.
“We must now build the organization of the Games,” he says in a statement.
“The IOC will be working hard with the Organizing Committee, they will be coming to Rio for periodical visits that will involve not just the Coordination Commission, but also various groups working in specific areas. We are discussing the project and possible adjustments to improve it”, he said.
The visit by El Moutawakel is not her first. She chaired the IOC Evaluation Commission which spent nearly a week in the city at the end of April last year.
Written by Ed Hula.
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