Rio de Janeiro and Niteroi’s joint bid for the 2031 Pan American and Parapan American Games aims to unite the Americas through sport and foster athletic development in the continent. Based on the experience of the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the proposal submitted to Panam Sports promises a low-cost event, without unnecessary infrastructure, and with a lasting legacy for the entire region.
One of the pillars of the bid is the investment in exchange and technical training programs for sports professionals throughout the continent. This effort will be led by the Rio-2031 Committee, the Brazilian Olympic Committee (BOC), the Brazilian Paralympic Committee (BPC) and other national federations. In addition, the Olympic Educational Gymnasiums program, which currently benefits more than 6,000 students in 12 schools, will be expanded.
Infrastructure and Games Schedule
The Pan American Games are scheduled to be held from August 8 to 24, 2031, while the Parapan American Games will be held from September 7 to 16. The competitions will be distributed in five zones: Barra, Copacabana, Deodoro, Porto Maravilha and Niterói, taking advantage of the existing Olympic facilities in Rio de Janeiro to avoid unnecessary expenses.
The Pan American Village will be located in the Port Zone and will have seven residential towers offering accommodation for 7,500 athletes and 2,800 officials. The soccer competitions, in addition to being played at the Maracana, will be held in stadiums in other cities such as Belo Horizonte, Brasilia, Salvador and São Paulo.
Niteroi and Rio: tradition and experience
The joint bid combines Niterói’s tradition of training talent with Rio’s experience in organizing major events. According to the mayor of Niterói, Rodrigo Neves, “there will be a legacy in urban development, sports and mobility that will benefit the entire metropolitan region”. In addition, the deputy mayor of Niterói, Isabel Swan, highlighted the importance of the event to “inspire future generations”, based on her experience as an Olympic medalist in sailing.
Funding and private sector support
The estimated budget for organizing the Games is US$667 million, with most of the funds coming from the private sector. According to Guilherme Schleder, Rio’s Municipal Sports Secretary, “the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games gave us the formula to organize a great event: no waste of public funds, strong private partnerships and an efficient legacy.”
With the bid confirmed, Rio-Niterói 2031 will launch its international campaign to obtain the necessary votes in the Panam Sports electoral college, composed of 41 National Olympic Committees and a total of 53 votes. The president of the Brazilian Olympic Committee, Marco La Porta, expressed his confidence in the bid, highlighting that “these events reinforce the objective of transforming Brazil into a true Sports Nation”.
