“We never hide our problems”

Eduardo Paes, Mayor of Rio de Janeiro, talks about the challenges and opportunities facing his city

“President Lula said something to me when we got into the hall in Copenhagen where we made the presentation. He said: ‘People are going to feel that we want the Games, they are going to see that in our faces.’

“If you go to Rio tomorrow you are going to feel that, that people are connected to the Games, that it means a big change for the city – and that we needed the Games. The week we had the decision in Copenhagen, it was a state holiday.

“The Games are much more than a turning point for the city – it’s a turning point for the country. Brazil was a country with a lot of instability in its economy and institutions. We’ve got a president that’s come from the poorest people of this country and has become president – and he’s doing a good job. Not only are the institutions strong, but the economic basis is also doing great. Our banking system is doing pretty well getting over the crisis.

“We never hide our problems. Throughout the bid, we admitted we have problems and we are facing those problems. The actual City of God is very different from the City of God you saw in the movie. We are sure that the policies we are bringing to Rio will help security get much better.

“We are not worried about delivering a safe Games. Rio hosted the Pan American Games; it was safe and secure. Every year we have the Carnival and every New Year two million people go to Copacabana beach. We had the 1992 UN Environment Summit with all heads of state in Rio and there was no problem in security.

“We still have a lot of problems; we are fixing those problems; we are sure that by 2016 we will deliver the Games and hopefully the city will be much more peaceful and secure for its own citizens.” “We know that the Olympic Games means an opportunity to close the gap between the rich and poor, to improve the poor areas of the city and reduce the violence that we have. It’s going to be much better by 2016, I’m sure about that.

“Gilbert Felli said: ‘Winning the Games was a nightmare’ – we know there’s a lot of work to do. We’ll work hard. We’ll look at Barcelona as the example. There was a Rio before the Games and there will be another Rio after the Games.”

Eduardo Paes stated these views at the Global Sports Industry Congress