Paralympics Funds "Not Tied to Elections," Says Mayor of Rio
On Friday (19), the mayor of Rio, Eduardo Paes (PMDB), said that the city's additional budget for the Paralympic Games would come from the city treasury, by way of sponsorships.
Paes committed to adding R$ 150 million (US$ 46.8 million) to cover the Olympic organizing committee's deficit.
The federal government will also make a contribution, through sponsorships from state enterprises.
The final amounts were determined in a meeting on Thursday (18), in Rio, with interim president Michel Temer (PMDB).
The city, however, will have to convince the Electoral Court to allow the sponsorship, and not run the risk of being sued for violating electoral law.
"We have to make it clear to the Electoral Court that it has nothing to do with the elections. It was a contract that the city signed in 2009,' said Paes, in an interview about the Olympic torch's trip to Tokyo, the next host city.
Despite the deficit, Paes said the Olympic organizing committee had done an "excellent" job with the Games. He attributed the difficulties to low demand for tickets.
"But, the people will see, the Paralympics is great, Brazil brings in medals, and they will go out and buy tickets," he said.
Until Thursday, APEX, the Brazilian trade promotion and investment agency tied to the Ministry of Foreign Relations, was the only one that had already locked in sponsorship for the Paralympics - with a R$ 30 million (US$ 9.3 million) contract.
The funds, however, were held back due to an order that dropped last Wednesday (17), which prohibited the transfer.
Translated by SUGHEY RAMIREZ