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Geral

Jun 27, 2016 02:00 PM

TRACK CYCLING

Delivery of Olympic Velodrome concludes the Barra Olympic Park

Venue played host to athletes from seven countries, who took part in a sporting event this weekend. The track got the thumbs up from the cyclists

With dozens of athletes on the competition track, the Olympic Velodrome was delivered to the Rio 2016 Paralympic and Olympic Games Committee this Sunday morning (26.06). The venue was the last to be delivered at the Barra Olympic Park, where all facilities are ready to host competitions. In total, R$ 143.5 million were invested in the stage of the cycling and paracycling events, R$ 118.8 million by the Ministry of Sport (R$ 112.9 million for building works and R$ 5.9 million for maintenance). The project was developed by the Rio de Janeiro City Hall.

The 250 metre long track is made from Siberian pine and designed by German expert Ralph Schürmann. The track supporting structure was imported from Germany. Around 55 kilometres of wood were used, as well as 94 trusses and 1.2 tons of nails. The type of pine used is less susceptible to humidity and heat, making the track more durable. The venue's configuration may be changed, allowing Rio de Janeiro to host other international competitions after the Games.

 

Cyclists from seven countries - Brazil, Switzerland, Australia, Russia, Japan, China and Hong Kong - tested the track this Saturday and Sunday. According to them, the delay in delivering the venue and the lack of a bigger test-event did not influence the quality of the competition facilities.

"The track is great and will be in excellent conditions. We now have a competition venue just as good as anywhere else in the world. It was an honour testing the track here as Brazil's representative", stated Armando Camargo Filho, deputising for Gideoni Monteiro, the only Brazilian who has qualified to compete at the Velodrome at Games time. This will be the first time Brazil takes part in Olympic cycling track events for 24 years. Gideoni is in the final stages of preparation for the Olympics and remained in Switzerland, training.

"I've been to many velodromes in the world and I'm certain that this is one of the best. As it is at sea level, records may not be broken, as we have faster speeds in places with higher altitude. But this is something that all athletes know and don't expect anything different", added Armando. "I've heard coaches saying 'very good', after studying the track in detail". Watch a video where Armando talks about the track and about the support provided to cycling by the federal government.

Alexander Porter from Australian, world champion in 2016 in the team pursuit event and currently 33rd in the Omnium world ranking, praised the track. However, he pointed out that there is a little bit of dust from the temporary stands and press positions, which are still being put up. "I'm sure that this small detail will be totally ready for the Games. Apart from that, the facilities are very good for competitors", stated the athlete. "This will be my first Olympics. I'm really looking forward to it. There will be many thrills, many surprises. It was important taking part in this test, as few people were able to. I believe that this will be an advantage", concluded Porter.

"The Velodrome is great and the track has been very well built. I think it'll be very fast for the Games. I hope to perform well here in August", said Swiss athlete Gaël Suter, who has already qualified for the Olympics.

Gaël Suter and Alexander Porter. Pictures: Miriam Jeske/ brasil2016.gov.br

» Find out more about the Olympic events that will be held at the Velodrome

 

Delivery ceremony

Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Paes symbolically handed over the key for the venue to the President of the Rio 2016 Organising Committee Carlos Arthur Nuzman. The following authorities also took part in the ceremony this morning: Minister of Sport Leonardo Picciani, President of the Olympic Public Authority Marcelo Pedroso, the Executive Director of the International Olympic Committee Christophe Dubi, as well as representatives of the Brazilian Olympic Committee, Brazilian Cycling Confederation and International Cycling Union.

The Minister of Sport reiterated that the Velodrome will be a reference for Brazilian cycling. "It's an amazing venue. I had the opportunity of watching the competitions here at the test. It got the thumbs up from all athletes. Therefore, the competition track for the Olympics is extraordinary and will allow for high level performances. I believe that at the end of the Olympics, Rio de Janeiro will have this great venue as legacy, in order to develop cycling in the state and Brazil. This will turn into a reference point for track cycling throughout Brazil", said Picianni.

"When we hand out the last key, the message I'd like to give is that from the point of view of Olympic venues, we're putting on the cheapest Olympics in history. A good part of this Olympic Park is the result of a PPP (public-private-partnership). The Olympic Villa, the Golf Course... A lot of the structures built for the Games are private", stated Paes.

VelodromoBOB_0180.jpg
Picture: Roberto Castro/ brasil2016.gov.br

Olympic Park

The Olympic Park covers an area of 1.18 million square metres, where 16 Olympic events will be held (basketball, track cycling, artistic gymnastics, trampolining gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, handball, judo, Greco-Roman wrestling, wrestling, synchronised swimming, swimming, water polo, diving, taekwondo, fencing and tennis). The Park will also be the stage of 9 Paralympic sports (wheelchair basketball, boccia, cycling, 5-a-side football, goalball, judo, swimming, wheelchair rugby, sitting volleyball and wheelchair tennis).

The permanent venues in Barra - Velodrome, Olympic Tennis Centre and Arenas Cariocas 1, 2 and 3 -, together with facilities in the Deodoro Olympic Park, will become part of the Olympic Training Centre (COT), which will hold top spot in the National Training Network being structured by the Ministry of Sport throughout the country.

The other sport venues in Barra are temporary structures: handball's Futuro Arena will be disassembled to build four public schools after the Games. In addition, the Water Sports Olympic Stadium will also be taken apart and the pools reused in other locations in Rio de Janeiro.

Brazilian cycling

Since 2010, the Ministry has signed three partnership agreements with the Brazilian Cycling Confederation (CB), which resulted in R$ 2.7 million in investments for the sport. Investment in track cycling alone were of R$ 1.3 million. The resources enabled the Brazilian squad to take part in national and international competitions, with a view to preparing for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Also, through the Athlete Grant Programme, biggest individual sponsorship programme in the world, the Ministry provided support for 171 Olympic and Paralympic cyclists in 2015 alone, with investments reaching R$ 2 million.

Nine cyclists (road, track, BMX and paracycling) are also Podium Grant beneficiaries, the highest category of the programme, aimed at athletes that have a chance of competing for medals at the Rio 2016 Games. Cyclist Gideoni Monteiro, who has qualified for the Rio 2016 Games, is one of the beneficiaries of the initiative, which awards grants between R$ 5 and R$ 15 thousand.

Abelardo Mendes Jr – brasil2016.gov.br