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VERO Look Forward to Copenhagen with Rio 2016 and International Rugby Board
2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games Candidate City and Rugby Federation nearing campaign finale
VERO are currently supporting Rio 2016 and the International Rugby Board (IRB) in their final preparations for the International Olympic Committee Session in Copenhagen.
IOC Members will vote to select the Host City for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games on Friday 2 October 2009 and Rugby Sevens’ recommended inclusion into the Olympic Games on Friday 9 October 2009.
VERO has been working with Rio 2016 on their bid to host the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games since June 2008 and the IRB on their bid for Rugby Sevens to be included in the Olympic Games since February 2008.
Rio 2016
The Rio 2016 bid has gained momentum over the past year and has gained a positive reaction from the Olympic Family, media and key stakeholders. Rio hopes to become the first South American city to win the honour of hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
VERO has helped communicate the key aspects of the bid, including: Rio’s spectacular backdrop for sport; support and guarantees from all three levels of Government; exciting new locations for Games broadcasters and media within a convenient time zone; dynamic market for sponsors; the robust Brazilian economy; significant investments already in place; real legacy for youth and sport in Brazil and South America; an historic decision for the IOC.
VERO’s role with Rio 2016 has been to develop strategic counsel to achieve a successful campaign and selection on 2 October in Copenhagen, including: devising and implementing communications strategies; developing Rio’s overarching bid narrative and key messaging; communications planning and onsite support at Olympic Family presentations; international media relations and the creation of Bid communications materials.
The bid team has entrusted VERO to devise, arrange and execute a number of key media briefings during the campaign, including the International Candidature File launch in London (February 2009) and President Lula’s tour of the Olympic Park during his visit to London for the meeting of the G20 (April 2009).
VERO supported the bid team in preparation for the inspection visit by the IOC Evaluation Commission in April 2009 and were on the ground to help ensure the visit was a success.
Rugby Sevens
VERO has been assisting the IRB in the creation and development of the campaign strategy, communications plan, campaign narrative and key messaging. VERO is also supporting the management of media relations and stakeholder engagement and has advised on campaign films and brochures.
The Rugby Sevens campaign achieved a significant success in August 2009, when the IOC Executive Board recommended Rugby Sevens – alongside Golf – to be shortlisted for a vote by the IOC Session in Copenhagen to be included in the Olympic sports programme for 2016.
Rugby Sevens and Golf were selected from a list of seven sports, which included baseball, softball, squash, roller sports and karate.
VERO has supported the IRB in communicating Rugby Sevens’ case for Olympic inclusion, stressing the game’s popularity with youth, increasing strength of the Women’s game, potential for smaller nations to win medals, commitment of the world’s best players to compete, attractiveness of Rugby Sevens to broadcasters and sponsors and the connection between Olympic and Rugby values.
The campaign has highlighted that Rugby will promote the values of Olympism during the four years of the Olympaid, including during the Rugby Sevens World Series, and that the Olympic Games will be the pinnacle achievement for Rugby Sevens players – especially given the IRB’s commitment to end the IRB World Cup Sevens if included in the Olympic Games.
The IRB had to meet thirty-three criteria set out by the IOC and completed an in-depth IOC Questionnaire in February 2009, which led to a report sent to all IOC members.
VERO has assisted the IRB in preparing to present their case for Olympic inclusion at key international presentations, including the IOC Programme Commission (February 2009) and IOC Executive Board (June 2009). VERO also provided guidance and planning support to the IRB during the IOC Programme Commission visits to the highly successful IRB World Cup Sevens in Dubai (March 2009).
We are looking forward to supporting Rio 2016 and the IRB in their preparations up to, and including, the IOC Session in Copenhagen.