Rio Olympics to be marked by peace, tolerance: Brazilian president


Rio De Janeiro, Apr 9 (IANS): This year's Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro will be marked by "peace" and "tolerance towards others", Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff said on Friday.

Rousseff made the comments during the official opening of the 15,000-seat Olympic aquatic centre, which will host swimming and water polo during the August 5-21 Games, Xinhua reported.

"We will stage this Olympics in the same way that we staged the [2014] World Cup, with peace and tranquility," Rousseff said.

"It is very important to guarantee to all the athletes and visitors from all over the world that the Games will be, without any doubt, an event underlined by peace, unity of people and dialogue."

Rousseff suggested the Olympics could represent that start of a recovery for Brazil's stricken economy.

"This is a special moment. It is a symbol and an example for Brazil of what is possible when good people work together. If we are capable of hosting the Olympic Games we are also capable of helping our country to grow again," she said.

Unlike the lead-up to the World Cup, Rio's Olympic preparations have mostly avoided controversy about venue delays and budget overruns. With just less than four months remaining until the opening ceremony, most sporting facilities are ready.

However, infrastructure projects like a new metro line and a light rail service linking the city centre to the port are yet to be finished. Organisers have also said they will not fulfil a pledge to reduce pollution in Guanabara Bay by 80 percent.

The total cost of staging the Olympics will reach 39.1 billion reais ($11 billion), according to the latest estimate by Brazil's Olympic Public Authority.

  

Top Stories


Leave a Comment

Title: Rio Olympics to be marked by peace, tolerance: Brazilian president



You have 2000 characters left.

Disclaimer:

Please write your correct name and email address. Kindly do not post any personal, abusive, defamatory, infringing, obscene, indecent, discriminatory or unlawful or similar comments. Daijiworld.com will not be responsible for any defamatory message posted under this article.

Please note that sending false messages to insult, defame, intimidate, mislead or deceive people or to intentionally cause public disorder is punishable under law. It is obligatory on Daijiworld to provide the IP address and other details of senders of such comments, to the authority concerned upon request.

Hence, sending offensive comments using daijiworld will be purely at your own risk, and in no way will Daijiworld.com be held responsible.