São Paulo – For the next 46 days, Brazil will have an open house to all those interested in getting to know the country. Brazil House opened this Thursday (4) in downtown Rio de Janeiro, the host city of the 2016 Summer Olympics and Paralympics Games, taking up a 12,500 square meter area that was planned to present the country’s qualities and folklore to the visitors. The house’s programme is extensive and includes activities to both business persons and tourists.
According to House Brazil’s spokesperson, Jun Yamamoto, this is the “largest space for the promotion of Brazil in the Olympic Games”. “In it, we will portray a large, diverse country, the culture, the cuisine, the crafts. We will have an area to introduce the Olympic and Paralympic sports to the visitors and also a space for business to show that Brazil is a large exporter and a country with the ability to lead”, he told ANBA.
For instance, visitors will be able to simulate a Paralympic wheelchair basketball game. “In the business section we will host seminars, matchmaking, opportunities to sell the country”, said Yamamoto. During the exhibition, there will be days in which the cuisine of every Brazilian region will be showcased: both the beverages and the typical dishes of these regions will be served to the tourists. Concerts and healthcare and well-being actions are also scheduled.
Brasil House is divided in six thematic areas: artistic and cultural diversity, tourist destinations, sports excellence, Olympic legacy, business and investment opportunities and public policies on equality, inclusion, sustainability and environment.
The space is coordinated by the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex-Brasil) in a partnership with the ministries of Tourism, Health, Education, Foreign Affairs, Culture, Sports, the Brazilian Tourism Institute (Embratur), the Special Secretariat for Social Communications of the Presidency, and the state-run companies and banks Banco do Brasil, Caixa Econômica Federal, Correios, Petrobras and the Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES).
The House of Brazil was organized before, in the 2010 South Africa World Cup, and in the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympic Games. But Rio’s house is the largest of them. Other countries will also organize national houses: Germany Beach House, House of Switzerland, Africa House (South Africa), Australia House, Austria House, Colombia House, Finland House, Club France, British House Olympics, Holland House, House of Hungary, Jamaica House, Czech House, Portugal House, Qatar House, House of Tokyo Metropolitan Government House, Mexico’s House, Tokyo 2020 Japan House and Danish Pavilion.
The Rio 2016 Olympic Games’ opening ceremony will take place this Friday (5) with the closing ceremony scheduled for August 21. The Paralympic Games will take place from September 7 to 18.
Brazil House
From August 4 to September 18
From 10 am to 8 pm during the Olympic and Paralympic Games and from 2 pm to 8 pm in the period between the two competitions. Daily cultural attractions from 7 pm to 10 pm.
Avenida Rodrigues Alves, 10, Centro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ (Mauá Pier, next to Museum of Tomorrow (Museu do Amanhã)
Free of charge
Further information and programme at: http://www.brasil2016.gov.br/pt-br/casabrasil
*Translated by Sérgio Kakitani
