London staged best Games ever says Rio’s mayor

Eduardo Paes, mayor of Rio, which will host the next Olympics in 2016, said it would be hard to follow on from such a great Games, but they are working closely with London to learn as much as possible.

At a joint Press conference with Mr Johnson in central London, Mr Paes said the connection between Rio and London started four 
years ago, as the south American city tried to learn as much
as possible from the English
capital.

“As we predicted you just did the greatest Games ever,” he said.

“I really want to congratulate Mayor Boris Johnson for leading the city of London into these great Games.

“These are Games of legacy, I’ve been to London many times and it’s amazing what you did in the area of the Olympic park.

“The logistics of the operation, the mobility of the people in London is really something.

“We came here for a little advice from Mayor Boris and we’re going to use the lessons we learned here in London for Rio’s Games.

“The city of Rio, it’s not as rich as yours, but we’re in good shape now.”

The mayor said the London 2012 team had done a “great job” and they had “learned a lot” from London.

The Olympics were not something that just took place for the two or three weeks the Games are on, “but happens before and after”.

He added: “Everyone’s looking at London, this was already a great city and it became even a greater city so Rio will try to follow you.

“You did so great that we’re going to have lots of trouble, lots of work, but we’re going to deliver great things in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro.”

Mr Johnson said he would have mixed feelings as the Olympic flag is lowered tomorrow night and handed over.

But he said he thought London had done “a pretty good job”
of running the Olympics in 
2012.