Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva announced on Monday in Rio that the federal government intends to open a credit line amounting to 85 million reais (53 million U.S. dollars) for the city's bid to host the 2016 Olympic Summer Games.
"There is certain appeal for Brazil's bid to host the 2016 Olympics. Now, it is time for the impossible. We have to put our Brazilian pride together, recover our self-steem and face our competitors," said the president in a ceremony at Rios state government headquarters Palacio da Guanabara.
If the congress approves the bill, Brazil's Ministry of Sports will be in charge of providing the credits to the project. Minister Orlando Silva took part in the ceremony on Monday, along with Rio Governor Sergio Cabral and the president of the Brazilain Olympic Committee (COB), Carlos Arthur Nuzman.
President Lula stressed in his speech that Cabral and Nuzman will accompany him when he travels to participate in events abroad,in order to help reinforce the political basis of Rios bid.
According to the Brazilian leader, it is necessary to gather forces and work together for the city to become the venue of the Games, only two years after Brazil hosts the 2014 FIFA World Cup, whose main events, like the opening ceremony, will be held inMacana Stadium in Rio.
To exemplify how the government plans to improve infrastructureconditions for the event, the president also mentioned projects that are expected to be accomplished by 2016, such as the bullet train connecting Rio and Sao Paulo, a broader subway network and airports in full operation.
COB will have to present a dossier on Rios bid up to Feb. 12, 2009, with 17 issues and 265 questions concerning to details of the proposal.
Source:Xinhua
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