Rio Presents in Lausanne

The Brazilian bid for the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games received a warm reception in Lausanne, Switzerland where the four finalist cities each presented their case for hosting the 2016 Olympic Games. FiveCurrents is working with the Brazilian Olympic Committee on Rio’s Olympic bid.

“The feedback that we got was very positive,” Rio bid secretary general Carlos Roberto Osorio told the Associated Press. “People really got our message. … Rio offers something new and fresh. Of the four candidates, Rio is the novelty.”

The presentation included a map of all previous Olympic Games showing dots throughout North America, Europe, Asia and Australia, but an empty South America. Rio is hoping to host the first-ever Olympic Games in South America. 

USA Today reported that “The Brazilian city emerged with the most buzz among the four cities which made presentations Wednesday to members of the International Olympic Committee, and must be considered a potential leading contender going into the final decision in Copenhagen on Oct. 2 against Chicago, Madrid and Tokyo.”

FiveCurrents and the Brazilian bid Committee, along with Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will be in Copenhagen on 2 October for the vote to determine who will host the 2016 Olympic Games.

President Lula Addresses IOC

At the second day of the IOC Evaluation Commission visit to Rio de Janeiro, the members were treated to a private meeting with Brazil’s President Lula. He made a passionate  speech saying that, “we want to prove that the time of this country being treated like a second-class citizen has ended. We want to be treated like first-class citizens”.

He also said that the fact that Brazil, arguably more than any other nation, has shaken off the blows of the global financial crisis, is proof of his nation’s readiness to host the Olympics, reported the Associated Press.

Rio de Janeiro is one of four finalist cities vying for the 2016 Olympic Games. The International Olympic Committee Evaluation Commission was in Rio for a final site visit.

Delegates Dancing at SportAccord

On Tuesday evening, 24 March, SportAccord opened its doors in Denver, and by the end of the Opening Ceremony, delegates were on their feet dancing. The FiveCurrents production began with speeches by Denver Governor Bill Ritter, Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, and IOC President Jacques Rogge. The evening included performances by the Colorado Ballet and much lauded silhouettes by the Rocky Mountain School of Dance. For the final act, six time Grammy Award winners Earth Wind and Fire took to the stage and brought the crowd to its feet at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House in downtown Denver.

FiveCurrents at SportAccord

Scott Givens, with his FiveCurrents team, will be producing the opening ceremony at this year’s annual SportAccord meeting in Denver. SportAccord will begin on 24 March 09 in the spirit of the American West, where everything is done on a large scale. Held in the historic Ellie Caulkins Opera House in the heart of the Denver Performing Arts Complex, the opening ceremony promises to surprise and delight delegates from around the world.

The Complex is one of the largest arts complexes in the world, occupying four city blocks and home to ten performance spaces all under one 80-foot-tall glass roof. The evening’s speakers will include Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, Colorado Governor Bill Ritter and International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge.

For more information on SportAccord, please click here.

Record Numbers Attend CGI U

More than 1000 students, and nearly 100 college and university presidents attended the second annual CGI U meeting, a FiveCurrents production, in Austin this February. Also in attendance were NGOs, national youth organizations, athletes and celebrity-activists including NFL All-Pro Nnamdi Asomugha, Matthew McConaughey, Natalie Portman, Morgan Spurlock and comedian John Oliver.

Participants discussed how student activists could make a difference around the world and each student and university in attendance was asked to make their own Commitment to Action. Over the three day meeting, attendees participated in forums and working sessions to brainstorm ways to make a difference. On the final day, CGI U Meeting attendees collaborated with The University of Texas at Austin students to take part in a wide range of community service activities at the Rosewood Park and Recreation Center in East Austin.

Since the inaugural CGI U Meeting at Tulane University in 2008, students, universities, and youth organizations have made more than 2,500 commitments.

For more information on CGI U, please click here.