
Rio 2016: A guide to the 2016 Summer Olympic Games
May 2, 2016
Why travellers prefer Blue Cross
May 2, 2016
The 2016 Summer Olympic Games are approaching quickly. The Olympic Games bring the world together. Athletes from countries from all over the world meet in the same place in celebration of sport and competition to find out who is the world’s best.
Called the biggest sporting event on the planet, the 2016 Summer Games are hosted by Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, beating bids from other cities such as Madrid, Spain, Tokyo, Japan and Chicago.
“Rio earned the right to host the 2016 Olympic Games on October 2, 2009, beating Madrid by a vote of 66-32. The city proved itself capable of hosting a multi-sport Games thanks to the 2007 Pan American and Parapan American Games. In 2014 cities all around Brazil, including Rio, hosted the FIFA World Cup, which the country previously played host to in 1950,” says Olympics.ca.
This will be the first Olympic Games to be held in a South American country. To help get you ready and excited for what is sure to be a memorable Olympics, here are some interesting facts information about Rio de Janeiro.
Rio is one of the largest cities in the world. Considered to be the cultural and intellectual hub of Brazil, it is home to more than 12 million residents. The official language of Brazil is Portuguese, and it is the language most widely spoken in Rio. Located on the Atlantic Coast, Rio is a popular tourist destination and is the most visited city in the southern hemisphere.
Learn more about Rio by visiting www.rio2016.com/en
Canada won one gold medal in the 2012 Olympics, and more is expected of our athletes in Rio, where more than 250 athletes from Canada will compete. According to CBC’s medal prediction table, based on world championship results and international competitions leading up to the Games, Canadians are predicted to win 18 medals in 2016, enough for 15th place overall. Here is the breakdown:
The United States is predicted to go home with the most medals (101), with China having the second-most (81) and Russia the third-most (64).
Some of the athletes to watch in Rio include:
If you are lucky enough to be heading to Rio this summer to cheer on your fellow Canadians, you won’t be alone. Hundreds of thousands of people will all be travelling to the same location, at the same time, making travel logistics somewhat of a challenge.
As a special, temporary measure sanctioned by the Government of Brazil on account of the Games, Canadian passport holders will not need a tourist visa to enter Brazil between June 1 and September 18, 2016, for a stay of up to 90 days. This exemption does not apply to other visa categories such as work and study.
A final consideration for planning a trip to Rio 2016 is travel insurance. With so many travellers and so much happening in one location, you never know when you may need travel assistance. Learn more about Blue Cross travel insurance options by contacting us or getting a travel insurance quote online. Choose Blue Cross and travel worry-free in Brazil.