Olympic and Paralympic Village is delivered to Rio 2016

Members of the federal government, Rio's city hall and Rio 2016 attended the village delivery ceremony. Picture: Gabriel Heusi/ brasil2016.gov.br

This Wednesday (15.06), the Olympic Village was delivered to the Rio 2016 Committee. Located in the city's west side, close to the Olympic Park, the complex has capacity to host to 17,950 athletes and technical staff at Games time in 3,604 flats.

"This could be the venue that summarises the Olympic spirit. Summary of what the world will find here. But the summary of a world we all wish we had. All creeds, races, every nation and peoples living in harmony and peace", said Mayor Eduardo Paes.

"This is definitely one of the most beautiful Olympic villages I've ever seen. The village is the heart of the Games. It's from here that the message of the Games leaves to locals, Brazilians and the world. Athletes will face one of the most difficult competitions in their lives and at the same time, will live in peace and celebrate together, sending the world a message of peace and respect", stated the President of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach.

There are 31 buildings and all have adapted units for people with disabilities or little mobility. The doors are wider, showers taller, larger corridors and the lifts have room for two wheelchairs at a time.

The village was included in the public private partnership that enabled the construction of most of the Olympic and Park and thus, did not rely on public funds.

"The Olympics will serve as an inspiration and model, showing that public private partnerships can work and may help Brazil recover its credibility vis-à-vis the international community, as well as their trust, critical to the country's recovery", pointed out the Minister of Sport Leonardo Picciani.

Around 18 thousand people worked in the village's construction. In total, 430 thousand cubic metres of concrete were used, which is the equivalent to 215 Olympic standard pools and 43 tons of steel. The infrastructure also includes 360km of piping (sewage, water and gas), 7.5km of wiring and cables, as well as 3,8km of cycle lanes.

Sustainability

The Olympic Village has been awarded the LEED ND pre-certificate (linked to neighbourhood development). The buildings have 10 thousand m² of green roofs, which reduce the heat and 75 solar power panels for heating the water. In addition, around 85% of the waste generated by the project was reused. A treatment station allows for water used by people to wash their hands and showers, to be reused in toilet seats and irrigation, leading to around 40% savings in consumption.

"I would like to invite everyone to a ceremony on 24 July, which will make us very proud. That is the day when the facilities will be officially opened to athletes and when the delegations will be arriving", said Carlos Arthur Nuzman, President of the Brazilian Olympic Committee and the Rio 2016 Organising Committee.

brasil2016.gov.br with information from Rio de Janeiro City Hall