The major of Rio de Janeiro Cesar Maia transferred 500,000 U.S. dollars on Monday to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to launch its bid for the Olympic Summer Games in 2016.
During a public event, where the transfer authorization was signed, Maia said that the payment proves that government’s compromise, in all its levels, with the project of hosting the first Olympic Games in South America.
The federal, provincial and municipality levels are being integrated towards the candidature, Maia said.
“This proves that the political differences don’t affect the sports. The guaranty of continuity of the project will be given, and that is fundamental,” Maia said.
The transfer document was signed during the celebration of the Olympic Day, when for the first time was raised the flag of Rio de Janeiro as a candidate city with the Olympic rings.
Attending the ceremony were members of the commission of the Rio-2016 candidature, sports figures, and the former president of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) and member of the IOC Joao Havelange.
“We will have a hard work until Oct. 2, 2009. I hope it to be an unforgettable day for Brazilian sports, if Rio de Janeiro is chosen,” Havelenage said.
The “Marvelous City” competes with Madrid (Spain), Chicago (U.S.) and Tokyo (Japan), the four of them must hand in a dossier to the IOC with all the detail of their project until Feb. 2009.