RIO DE JANEIRO – In an effort to boost confidence and public support amongst locals as Rio’s 1.4 million square-yard Olympic Park takes shape, a top city secretary presented plans Wednesday for the post-2016 Summer Olympics legacy projects.
Municipal Executive Coordination Secretary Pedro Paulo Carvalho Teixeira, who is expected to run for mayor of Rio de Janeiro next year, spoke about Olympic facilities which will be transformed into public schools, gymnasiums for youth and public park space for leisure and exercise.
The tone of his presentation — coming as Brazil faces its worst economic crisis in two decades and as the country continues to feel the economic and political fallout of a vast corruption probe implicating politicians, the state oil company and prominent construction companies — contrasted earlier upbeat public statements from city officials about Rio’s pride in becoming an “Olympic City.