Rio, February 2, 2004 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The candidacy of Rio de Janeiro to host the 2012 Olympics won the support of entrepreneurs who operate shopping centers. The campaign, which has the slogan "We want the Olympics" and is led by the Brascan group, was inaugurated this morning outside the Riosul Shopping Center, in Botafogo, and has already received the backing of three other shopping centers in Rio and one in São Paulo, as well as ten real estate firms in the two cities.

According to the director of the Brascan Shopping Center, Cláudio Guarany, the goal is to spread the campaign to shopping centers throughout the country. "All of Brazil's shopping centers will have this emblem on their facades," said Guarany, adding that between now and May, 2005, when the Olympic Committee will make its choice, the city will be "wearing the colors."

Last month, Rio and nine other cities presented the International Olympic Committee (IOC) with their questionnaires about infrastructure and transportation for circulation during the games. On February 18, the IOC will announce the names of the cities that will continue in the dispute to host the 2012 games. Rio is preparing a dossier with nearly 600 pages. The document will only be submitted if the city proceeds to the next phase of the competition. (DAS)