International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach hailed the Rio Olympics a success on Tuesday (December 6) saying that the 2016 Games were the most consumed ever.
The Games may not have been perfect but organisers exceeded expectations given the political and economic situation in the South American country, organisers said.
Rio, the first Olympic host city on the continent, had to grapple with a protracted political crisis, the worst recession in more than 80 years and a string of organisational problems due to a lack of cash.
THE run-up to the Games was an obstacle course for local organisers and the IOC had to put up hundreds of millions of dollars of its eventual contribution before the start of the Olympics to help out.
The Games’ anti-doping programme was also affected by a lack of funding amid a widening Russian drugs scandal while venues were hit by problems including water quality in pools and a virtual absence of branding around the Olympic park due to issues with banner suppliers.
Despite the problems Rio put on a carnival atmosphere for the world and in competition athletes’ performances yielded 100 world and Olympic records and brought several countries their first medals and with global coverage which beat past records.
“The Olympic Games Rio 2016 were a huge success beyond all our expectations in many respects,” Bach said.
“First of all it was the most consumed Olympic Games ever with half of the world population following the Games with half of the world population following the Games with seven billion views on social media only.
“Secondly, these Olympic Games sent a great message of unity in diversity to the world, with all the 206 National Olympic Committees participating and embracing the first ever Refugee Olympic Team which was highly welcomed by the world.
“And finally we can also see the great credibility the Olympic Games Rio 2016 enjoyed according to an independent study, we can realise that the Olympic values of respect of excellence and peace, for instance, that they were higher rated for Rio 2016 than for previous Olympic Games.
“So we can say, putting all this together, the Olympic Games Rio 2016 were a really marvellous Games in the marvellous city.”
Rio was awarded the Games in 2009 amid Brazil’s booming economy at the time and a different set of expectations by the IOC before the political crisis and the sharp financial downturn changed organisers’ plans.
They then had to deal with a daily barrage of questions and criticism regarding organisation, with empty seats in venues and unsold tickets marring the start of the Olympics.
Rio mayor Eduardo Da Costa Paes said that hosting the event had made a lasting impact on the city.
“I would say there is one Rio before the games and another Rio after the Games. Since we won them we said the Games would serve the city, there is always this issue about legacy, the change for the city, obviously Rio has not become a perfect city because of the Games but it has become a much, much better city inspired by the Games,” he said. – REUTERS