Rio 2016: Mayor of Rio de Janeiro Eduardo Paes officially welcomed the Australian Team to Rio and provided Australia’s Chef de Mission Kitty Chiller with the keys to the city in recognition of the friendship and respect between the people of Rio and Australia.

“I hope you guys enjoy Rio, enjoy Brazil, this is a very special country,” said Paes in a ceremony within the International Zone of the Olympic Village.

“We have our problems but we are very proud of our city it is an amazing place, it is going to be a great celebration with amazing people, like you guys in Australia, … so welcome to Rio.

“This is going to be the only delegation that will get the keys to the city of Rio – so Rio is opened to the Australians!”

Paes went on to formally apologise for the initial problems experienced in the Village by the Australian team and admitted that Australia will be his second team at the Games when competition commences.   

“We got together with the Australian team last Friday, I came to the village and I saw that things were not well and this was the worst feeling,” said Paes.  “I recognised the problems that we faced and I really wanted to come here today to also make a formal apology.

“Australia is going to be my second team … I hope you get all the other gold medals,” added Paes.

Flanked by the Australian Mens Hockey Team, Chiller acknowledged the gesture and efforts of the people of Rio and provided Paes with an official Australia Team shirt and boxing kangaroo mascot.

“We are very happy to be here and so very happy for the Village that you have provided,” said Chiller. “Rio is a beautiful city with beautiful people and this is something that we have particularly noticed in this last week when we have had our challenges.

“The passion and the commitment and the willingness of your people to help us has been outstanding – Muito obrigado estamos felizes” (Thank you very much – we are happy).  

Jo Banning
olympics.com.au