Other website sections

»Sports Market Reports

»Sports Jobs

»Tenders

»Directory

»Conferences

The 2014 soccer World Cup in Brazil is a unique advantage for Rio de Janeiro's bid to host the Olympics two years later, bid secretary general Carlos Osorio said on Thursday.

On a day when all four 2016 Games candidates -- Chicago, Tokyo, Madrid and Rio -- displayed their bids to IOC members and media in adjoining rooms after their closed-session presentations on Wednesday, the cities pitched their advantages.

The International Olympic Committee will elect the winner on October 2 in Copenhagen.

"Hosting the World Cup two years before the Olympics is a great advantage," Osorio told Reuters. Rio is vying to become the first South American city to stage the Olympics.

"We will have key infrastructure ready, the Rio and Sao Paolo international airports will be upgraded by 2014, telecommunications, technology and new hotels will already be in place."

Osorio said Rio's estimated Olympic security budget, should it win the Games, would be $1.25 billion (765 million pounds) with 40 percent of that already weaved into the World Cup budget.

"By 2016 we will have trained personnel, with international event experience," Osorio said. "The World Cup works nicely for us."

While Rio played the World Cup card, Madrid highlighted their growing experience and good contacts within the Olympic movement after their failed bid four years ago.

"You do not have many chances to meet IOC members. The contact for us are much easier this time," bid chief Mercedes Coghen told Reuters. Madrid was eliminated in 2005, with Paris and eventual winner London progressing to the final round of voting for the 2012 Games.

IOC 'AMAZED'

"We have learned so many things so we are on a high professional level this time," Coghen said.

Chicago mayor Richard Daley said the city, which has pledged a $500 million guarantee towards the Games, had taken out an insurance policy for any amount above that to avoid burdening the city and taxpayers.

He also said IOC members had been "amazed" by the city's central parks and its lakeshore as displayed into their presentation room.

"They (members) are amazed that this ocean, the lake (Michigan) exists. I think they are all amazed," Daley said in front of a large digitally altered wall-to-wall picture of the city to include the future Olympic venues.

Tokyo, who are banking on support from the Japanese royal family ahead of the vote in Copenhagen, said the city's compact plan and robust finances were a strong selling point.

"Everything is contained in an 8-kilometre radius," said Tokyo governor Shintaro Ishihara.

(Source: Reuters)