Marvelous Rio de Janeiro, nestled in lush green mountains and bordered by beaches and the blue Atlantic and white foam waves lapping at its shores, opens it arms with its renowned warmth and hospitality to the world. Six million cariocas in over 159 districts give the city its thriving and pulsing energy and cultural diversity, a place where newcomers are welcomed as family.
Rio is distinctly itself, geographically and culturally, but it is a city that has absorbed elements of the world, making everyone who comes here feel at home.
Events of one million and more attendees are common in the jubilant city of Rio de Janeiro: rock concerts including Live Earth and the Rolling Stones; celebrations like New Year's Eve and Carnaval; and sporting events like the 2004 Athens Olympic Torch Relay.
Illustrious residents, including athletes, artists and intellectuals, live and enjoy the "Marvelous" city, which offers myriad leisure activities, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week:
- Ride the cable cars that take you atop the Sugar Loaf and Christ the Redeemer with their breathtaking views.
- Hang glide over the beach at São Conrado.
- Watch spectacular football matches at the Maracanã, the largest stadium in South America.
- Dance in Lapa nightclubs.
- Fish the Guanabara Bay at the Marina da Glória.
- Dine at historic art nouveau Colombo Bakery.
- Boat on the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon.
- Walk along the beach at Copacabana.
Residents and tourists of all ages enjoy the Tijuca Forest, the largest urban forest in the world. They climb Morro da Urca, and bicycle along the Aterro do Flamengo, passing the Museum of Modern Art and Flamengo beach, among other notable sights. Sports are practiced across the city and throughout the year, thanks to the year-round climate of frequent sunshine and pleasant temperatures. Such climes will provide 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games participants with ideal conditions for competing.
Three large-scale public transportation projects will connect Barra da Tijuca, which would be the central reference point of the 2016 Rio Olympics, to all other city regions, providing efficiency, speed and safety in the flow of the Olympic event and for posterity. The fleet runs on alternative fuels, like biodiesel, alcohol and natural gas, an example of the city and the country's commitment to the preservation and recuperation of the environment. As part of the commitment to making the environment a priority, Barra's lagoons will be cleaned up and programs will be disseminated to develop environmental awareness, sustainable sanitation development and garbage handling.
Beyond its natural beauty and captivating population, Rio de Janeiro is one of the country's main economic centers. Brazil's economy is the largest in Latin America, and is ranked 11th in the world (Austing Ratings 2006), with a gross domestic product of US$795 billion. The country is increasingly attracting investments as a result of its monetary stability and growth in the purchasing power of its internal markets; the population of Brazil is near 189 million. Rio, which is home to various industries like oil, marine and chemical sectors, is a main port of entry. The service sector, helped by tourism and the large hotel industry, accounts for 65 percent of the total employed population, according to Labor Department data.
The Rio 2007 Pan-American and Parapan-American Games contributed significant economic gains to the city thanks to the number of civil construction and tourism jobs created, among others. Tthe Rio de Janeiro Metropolitan Region saw a sharp decrease in unemployment during those games.
Along with the creation of jobs and a volunteer program, Rio 2007 provided skilled labor training in various areas, therefore generating immediate and future benefits. The 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games will certainly benefit the city in similar, even greater ways, creating singular opportunities for Brazilians of all ages, and contributing significantly, undeniably and in a way only the Olympics and Paralympics can, to future generations.