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Judô

May 16, 2016 04:37 PM

Barra Olympic Park

Arena Carioca 2 is officially opened, one but last stage to be delivered for the Rio 2016 Games

Stadium located at the Barra Olympic Park will host judo, freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling competitions, as well as Paralympic boccia

The scenario is almost perfect and ready for the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games, after Arena Carioca 2 was officially opened at the Barra Park. The stage of judo, freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling, sport that has given Brazil the most Olympic medals and that in August, will represent the hope of podium finishes, was delivered by the Organising Committee on Saturday (14.05).

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Picture: Roberto Castro/ brasil2016.gov.br

The one but last stadium to be delivered in the preparation phase, the structure was checked out and approved by International Olympic Committee (IOC) representatives and Brazilian Paralympic boccia squad athletes. Paralympic boccia will be hosted at the arena at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games and thus, athletes took the first throws after the venue was officially opened.

Arena Carioca 2 has also been given the seal of approval by Sarah Menezes, who won the Olympic gold in judo in London and visited the stadium on Saturday. "The structure is excellent, I think everything looks really nice. Now expectations fall onto the public, right? In the arena, rooting for Brazil, a very pleasant motivation. I'm going to wait for the moment, month and day to give it my all", stated Brazil's only Olympic champion in history.

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Mayor Eduardo Paes (left) and the Minister of Sport Leonardo Picciani officially opened Arena Carioca 2. Picture: Roberto Castro/ brasil2016.gov.br

The opening ceremony was attended by the new Minister of Sport Leonardo Picciani. He praised the moment as an opportunity to show that the country is ready to stage the Games in August. "We're going to meet all commitments made together with city hall and the Rio state government. We're in the final stage, final adjustments, so that in 83 days we're able to play host to the world in Rio", he stated.

Mayor Eduardo Paes (left) and the Minister of Sport Leonardo Picciani officially opened Arena Carioca 2. Picture: Roberto Castro/MoS

The president of the Rio 2016 Games Organising Committee Carlos Arthur Nuzman also attended the ceremony, as well as Rio de Janeiro's Mayor Eduardo Paes, who pointed out that the venue was delivered on schedule without overpricing. With Arena Carioca 2 officially opened, only the velodrome remains to be delivered, also at the Barra Olympic Park.

 

Structure

With capacity for up to 10 thousand people, Arena Carioca 2 was the last of three arenas delivered for the Rio 2016 Games. Like the others, it will be an important part of the legacy for high performance athletes, preparing for the next Olympics and other international competitions. The façade's design was inspired on the city's mountains, with a winding format and wood pillars.

The 23 thousand m² of area covered by the arena ensures accessibility with two access ramps, adapted lavatories and changing rooms. Funding was the result of a public-private partnership between city hall and the Rio Mais Group.

After the Games, the temporary stands will be totally disassembled and the area will have training rooms built on the concrete slabs. City hall anticipates that the sports practiced at the arena will be badminton, fencing, judo, rhythmic ad trampolining gymnastics, freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling, weight lifting and table tennis. In all, the expectation is to widen the development of new athletes.

Rodrigo Vasconcelos - Ministry of Sport