RIO DE JANEIRO, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said on Monday that the money to be used in the projects necessary for Rio to host the 2016 Olympic Games should not be considered expenditure, but investment.
"We should not ask how much Brazil is going to spend, but how much it is going to win with the Olympic Games," the president said in his weekly radio show.
Rio was chosen the 2016 Games' host city on Friday, defeating Chicago, Madrid and Tokyo. It will be the first time the Olympic Games take place in South America.
The budget for the Games foresees 28.8 billion reais (16.3 billion U.S. dollars) in investments. Out of the total budget, 25 billion reais (14.2billion U.S. dollars) is to come from the government.
According to President Lula, the investments to be made in Rio will serve not only for the Olympics, but also to increase the quality of life in the city. Most of the money will be used in infrastructure, especially in the public transportation sector.
The president stressed that now Brazil has the responsibility to invest more in sports and better prepare its athletes, so that they achieve better results in the 2016 Olympics.
According to the president, plans must be made so that the athletes' results start improving in next Olympic Games in London in 2012.
Brazil has never managed to win more than five gold medals in one Games. The Brazilian delegation brought home three golds, four silvers and eight bronzes from the Beijing Games last year.
Editor: Zhang Pengfei | Source: Xinhua