(ATR) The Rio Media Center will begin to be dismantled soon, with an eye towards redevelopment of the site.
A spokesperson for the Rio Municipal Olympic Authority (EOM) confirmed to Around the Rings that talks for a post-Games usage of the site are underway.ATR has learned that the city of Rio was in discussions to sell the land to the United States Consulate, but the upcoming election has made the timeline for a potential move indefinite. The temporary building housing the media center will be dismantled before the purchase is complete.
"U.S. Department of State site purchases are managed from Washington by the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations,"a spokesperson for the US consulate said toATR."The Department is in the process of evaluating the Rio 2016 site in Cidade Nova for a potential new Consulate facility."
The RMC was open from July 25-August 23 and from September 4-20, to offer a space for journalists covering the non-sporting side of the Rio Olympics and Paralympics. The space was located a block from Rio’s City Hall building and behind the Rio 2016 organizing committee building.
An EOM spokesperson told ATR that 4,430 journalists from 82 countries used the space when it was open. The space allowed for journalists to file print stories, record radio interviews, and broadcast and edit video.
The RMC hosted 38 press conferences and 12 operational briefings for journalists during the course of both Games. On top of the press conferences, the center hosted 75 other events, which included city tours, press trips, walking tours, and other activities. A total of 805 journalists participated in the different events according to the EOM spokesperson.
"The success of the Rio Media Center has exceeded our expectations and left us really proud for offering one of the most sought-after open media centers of the Olympic Games," Carol Medeiros, RMC center director, said in a statement to ATR.
"One of the highlights was the regularity with which professionals filled the two press rooms even when there was no activity scheduled for the Auditorium. This large number of professionals on site is not commonly seen at press centers and has surprised us very positively."
Written by Aaron Bauer in Rio de Janeiro
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