Time Brasil

Brazil will field its biggest delegation ever at the Rio Games with 462 athletes

Figure is much higher than the highest number of athletes previously fielded (277), in Beijing (2008). The delegation is made up of 253 male and 209 female athletes

: Pictures: Brazilian Olympic Committee

The Brazilian delegation for the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games will field 462 athletes, a record for the country in competitions of this type. This Monday (18), the Brazilian Olympic Committee (COB) finalised the national team list. The list was submitted to the Rio 2016 Olympic Village by the Brazilian head of the mission Bernard Rajzman and deputy heads Marcus Vinicius Freire and Gustavo Harada.

The Brazilian representatives are made up of 209 female and 253 male. The previous record in relation to number of athletes had been achieved in Beijing 2008, when Brazil took 277 athletes (132 female and 145 male). In total, the delegation will comprise of 806 people, among athletes and delegates (coaches, trainers, doctors, etc.). In addition to accredited professionals, another 200 will care for Brazilian athletes at exclusive bases.

"We have concluded an important preparation stage. It was a long meeting, where no detail was overlooked", stated Bernard Rajzman. "The Brazil Team has been through the best preparation ever, crowned with the highest number of athletes in a national delegation to ever take part in an edition of the Games", he added.

Sports with the biggest number of athletes: athletics (67), football (36), swimming (33), handball (28) and water polo (26). Brazil will make its Olympic debut in five sports: Badminton, trampolining gymnastics, golf, hockey and rugby.

In addition, the delegation will also take part in the following competitions for the first time: female canoe sprint, female water polo, male team artistic gymnastics, synchronised swimming combos and synchronised diving.

Olympic Village

Part of the Brazilian mission is already housed at the Rio 2016 Olympic Village, even before its official opening scheduled for the 24th. "We're putting up all the structure that will be used. When athletes start arriving, everything will be ready", stated Bernard.

The following are the first Brazilian squads who will arrive at the Olympic Village next Sunday the 24th: canoe slalom, track cycling, female football, male artistic gymnastics, hockey, diving, archery and shooting – rifle, pistol and skeet -.

brasil2016.gov.br