Illumination of Mandela Bridge marks 100 days to Rio Games
28 April 2016
The iconic Nelson Mandela Bridge in Braamfontein was last night bathed in green and gold lights to mark the start of the 100-day countdown to the opening ceremony of the 2016 Olympic Games at Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Friday 5 August 2016.
Johannesburg Executive Mayor Councillor Parks Tau, South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee President Gideon Sam and Brazil’s acting Ambassador to South Africa, Antonio Augusto Cesar, presided over the illumination ceremony.
The event coincided with the 22-year anniversary of Freedom Day and also marked the official handover of the Olympic torch in Olympia, Greece – the birthplace of the modern Games, to Rio 2016 after a tour of Greece. Johannesburg joined Cape Town, Argentina’s Buenos Aires, Greece’s Athens, India’s New Delhi, Italy’s Rome, Japan’s Tokyo, Portugal’s Almada, Qatar’s Doha, South Korea’s Seoul and the United States’ Atlanta in starting the countdown.
Mayor Tau said it was fitting that the Mandela Bridge was chosen to remind South Africans about the Rio Games.
“The Nelson Mandela Bridge is a symbol of integration in our city, a symbol of triumph, representative of what we as a city are trying to achieve in terms of development. It’s fitting to be able to use this landmark to say to Team SA: ‘We’re with you and good luck as you go to the Rio Games’,” said Mayor Tau.
“As a friend to Brazil and as part of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, China and SA) network of countries, we’re able to come together and say we support you even through the difficult times you face as a nation. Over the years I’ve worked very closely with the Mayor of Rio, Eduardo Paes, and we have been sending him messages of support and encouragement as he prepares to host the Olympic Games. We’ve built a solid friendship with the City of Rio,” he said.
Sasco’s Sam said the committee was talking to athletes’ agents to ensure they did not burn out before the Olympics.
“It’s now 100 days to go before the starter’s gun. We’re going for 10 medals. As we count down, we’re confident we’ve done our homework,” said Sam.
Acting Ambassador Cesar paid tribute to longstanding Joburg-Rio de Janeiro relations and allayed fears around the Zika virus.
“Today, together we celebrate some of the finest qualities of the human spirit, the strength to overcome obstacles and the endurance to fight again and again until the most difficult challenge is behind us. Freedom is a type of victory.
“It’s a fitting coincidence that we’re celebrating the 100-day Rio Games countdown in South Africa on Freedom Day,” said Cesar.