(ATR) Two days after his appointment as Brazilian sports minister, Leonardo Picciani makes his first visit to the Olympic Park for Rio 2016,
Picciani was named sports minister on May 12 as part of the new cabinet under acting President Michel Temer. Picciani, a member of the Brazilian Democratic Movement Party, is a Federal Deputy from Rio de Janeiro.
He is the third Sports Minister for Brazil in 2016.
On Saturday Picciani, along with Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Paes, Rio 2016 President Carlos Nuzman, and IOC Olympic Games Executive Director Christophe Dubi, inaugurated Carioca Arena 2. The venueis the next to last sport venue to be inaugurated ahead of the 2016 Games. It will be used forOlympic judo and wrestling and Paralympic boccia
"I would like to reiterate the word that President Michel Temer used in his opening speech: confidence," Picciani said to reporters. "We are fine tuning everything for the Games. We know that there are commitments to be met, measures to be taken and problems to be solved."
Paes said he welcomed Picciani's appointment.
"With no [disrespect] to the former ministers, it is nice to have a Carioca, and fellow party member, as minister." Paes says the visit of the minister just hours into the job shows that the political crisis in Brazil has no affect on the Games organization.
Carioca Arena 2 contains 10,000 temporary seats which will be dismantled after the Games. The arena will become a high performance sports center for nine sports.
"You have to be proud when you come into a venue like this."saidDubi in his praise of the legacy.
"What the world expects when we are speaking about Brazil and Rio is two things great performances from athletes and the joy from the Brazilian people and Cariocas," Dubi added.
"The infrastructure is almost ready and the athletes are preparing; we just need now the Brazilian people to show what they can do to be the best host that the world will remember."
Written by Aaron Bauer in Rio de Janeiro
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