IOC president tours Olympic Boulevard

The president of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach on Thursday toured the Olympic Boulevard in Rio where non-ticket holders can watch the games of the 31st Olympiad.

Rio de Janeiro showcases 'Olympic Boulevard' pic.twitter.com/3qEDbEgnSC

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The 3.2 kilometer Live Site as it is called in Rio’s port region will also be the venue for live concerts and other forms of entertainment during the multi-sport event.

“This will be the place to be. This will be the place to celebrate together the Olympic spirit. This will be the place to share the Olympic experience with each other among the Cariocas and with the visitors of the whole world,” IOC president Thomas Bach said.

The nearly US$3 million Olympic Boulevard in Rio’s redeveloped port district will feature three stages with live music, large screens showing the the sport and has more than 230 street art performances and nightly firework displays lined up.

Get to know the Olympic Boulevard with this interactive guide. https://t.co/rE0xsdpOUI

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Included in the development is the stunning futuristic Museum of Tomorrow (Museu do Amanhã) which protrudes diagonally into the sky from the old port of Rio de Janeiro as well as a new tramline.

Rio Mayor, Eduardo Paes who has been criticized for spending so much on the games when the country is facing its worst recession in years, said the investment has made the city much better.

“We wanted the Games to make great change in the city, and Rio still is a city that faces lots of challenges as you know, our country, but this is a much better city than what it was before the Games. The changes that we had in the last few years are amazing,” he said adding that “so, now we start the party, the celebration and a great celebration of sports”.

Big screens will also be installed at five points throughout the city of Rio including two at the Olympic park and at the newly built Madureira Park in Rio’s north zone.

Some one million tourists are expected in Rio for the Olympic games. Half of this number is expected to come from the regions of Brazil.