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Rio celebrates 10 years of the Olympic and Paralympic Games with a consolidated and expanded legacy.
Published on 05/08/2026 - 15:26 | Updated on 05/08/2026 - 15:38
The opening of the exhibition "The Olympic Tomorrow: Legacy and Future" at the Museum of Tomorrow kicks off the celebrations - Photo: Marco Antonio Lima/Rio City Hall Ten years after hosting the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the city of Rio has become one of the prime examples of urban and sporting transformation thanks to the legacy left by the event. While 17 legacy projects were initially planned, this number has since reached 30, and currently, Rio residents are reaping the benefits of these expanding initiatives. To kick off the celebrations, Rio's mayor, Eduardo Cavaliere, inaugurated the exhibition "The Olympic Tomorrow: Legacy and Future" at the Museum of Tomorrow this Wednesday (August 5th), along with two sculptures that will be displayed outside the venue.
"We're talking about a memory, a legacy that remains alive in the lives of Rio's residents. The Olympic legacy isn't something we keep in a box or an archive. We're talking about the BRT, the Gentileza Terminal, four technological educational gyms that were built from the Arenas of the Future. All of this was the result of a lot of planning and, above all, a decision made by Rio de Janeiro and Brazil to make Rio a city prepared for major events," said Mayor Eduardo Cavaliere.
From the time Rio was chosen to host the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games on October 2, 2009, until the Opening Ceremony on August 5, 2016, three guiding principles defined the city: prioritizing a legacy for the people of Rio, conserving public resources, and creating sustainable facilities without white elephants. All objectives were achieved, promoting the city's development.
Of the investment made by the City Hall to organize the Games, 70% came from private resources and 63% of the total allocated to the Games by the public sector was applied to legacy projects. The rational use of public money had a direct impact on the city's economy and infrastructure.
In 2024, a study by the Getúlio Vargas Foundation (FGV) revealed that the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games generated an impact of R$ 99 billion on the Gross Value of Production (VBP) in the city. This included R$ 51,2 billion on GDP, R$ 5,3 billion in tax revenue, and R$ 36,2 billion in impact on family income.
More than 465,4 jobs were created in the city and another 167,8 in the rest of the state. A total of R$ 36,16 billion in income was generated for families in Rio de Janeiro alone, and R$ 13 billion for other families in the state.
Beyond the cost savings, the structural revolution brought about by the Games had a positive impact on the daily lives of Rio de Janeiro residents: revitalization of the Port Zone, BRT corridors, light rail, Gentileza Terminal, Operations and Resilience Center (COR), Olympic Educational Gymnasiums (GEOs), duplication of the Joá Elevated Highway, expansion of the hotel network, Barra Olympic Park and Deodoro Sports Complex are some examples of direct legacies promoted by the event.
The Port Zone, with the requalification of five million square meters, has become a symbol of the revolution promoted by the Games in the city, returning to the people of Rio an area that over the years had been abandoned and marginalized in the heart of the city. The demolition of the Perimetral highway allowed for the implementation of the Light Rail Transit (VLT), the Orla Conde waterfront promenade, the Museum of Tomorrow, the Museum of Art of Rio, as well as the recovery and restoration of historical landmarks, such as the Valongo Wharf.
The creation of a ring road that integrated all modes of transportation in the city, with the implementation of BRT and LRT corridors, caused the percentage of the population using medium-capacity public transport to jump from 18% before the Games to 65%. Since its creation, the BRT alone has transported 1,4 billion passengers, and currently, 615 passengers use this mode of transport.
"This achievement wasn't just for the city of Rio de Janeiro; it was for Brazil. We managed to show that a city in a developing country was capable of hosting all the sports, with a nomadic architecture and efficient use of public resources. And we have a great challenge ahead. If today we are here to celebrate 10 years of this Olympic legacy, we are also here to renew our commitment to continue defending Brazilian sport," reinforced Eduardo Cavaliere.
Legacies of Legacies
Ten years later, the transformation brought about by the Rio 2016 Games in the city has already reached new levels with the expansion of the Olympic legacies benefiting the population.
The Operations and Resilience Center, the first public facility inaugurated for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games on December 31, 2010, is one of the greatest examples of a lasting legacy. Fundamental to the daily lives of Rio residents, it underwent an expansion in 2022, now encompassing 1.582 m² and three floors. The operations room was enlarged to 446 m², and the existing screen was expanded to 104 m², featuring a video wall composed of 125 55” screens, the largest in Latin America. The number of workstations increased from 75 to 115. Approximately 30 agencies, organizations, and integrated concessionaires now operate from the center.
The Port Zone has become a reality and has begun to receive new residents. The construction of 12 housing units has already been approved, and 3.385 units have been delivered. It is estimated that by 2030, the region will receive a total of 30 new residents.
The creation of Porto Maravalley also boosted the port. The technology and innovation hub, spanning approximately 10 square meters, shares its facilities with IMPA Tech, the Faculty of Mathematics, the first undergraduate program of the Institute of Pure and Applied Mathematics (IMPA). It brings together the knowledge generated by educational institutions and research centers with startups, innovative companies, and investors.
Also in the field of Education, the Technological Educational Gymnasium (GET) is a model public school, already awarded as the most innovative in the country, and was born under the inspiration of the Olympic Educational Gymnasium (GEO), which focuses on teaching to encourage sports practice and the ideals of Olympism.
The GETs follow the STEAM approach (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics), develop project-based learning, invest in the qualification of comprehensive education and promote digital culture. By the end of the year there will be 350 in the city.
After recovering, renovating, and expanding the BRT system created for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, the Rio de Janeiro City Hall began, in 2025, the renewal of the entire bus fleet and the revision of the city's bus routes.
The city launched the RIO System – Integrated Bus Network – which will define the new companies that will operate the city's fleet. In Campo Grande and Santa Cruz alone, the number of buses will jump from 95 and 67 to 152 and 216, respectively. The new system will feature new vehicles with air conditioning, low pollutant emissions, and an increased fleet size.
The creation of Madureira Park and its environmental, recreational, and cultural benefits for the population resulted in a policy of large parks. Since 2024, five large public parks have been inaugurated: Realengo Park, Pavuna Park, Rita Lee Park, Oeste Park, and Piedade Park. Together, they total 500 square meters of green areas in the city.
All these actions increased visibility and highlighted the city of Rio both in Brazil and abroad. And with the resumption of investments in the sector in 2021, after a four-year hiatus, the world turned its eyes back to the Marvelous City.
In 2025, Rio broke all its records by receiving 12,5 million tourists, of which 10,5 million (83,1%) were domestic visitors and 2,1 million (16,9%) were foreign visitors. Last year alone, the number of international tourists grew by 44,8%.
And the revitalization of Tom Jobim International Airport (Galeão) was fundamental for the city to reach these visitor numbers. From 2022 to 2025, Galeão moved from tenth to third position among the busiest airports in Brazil. Domestic connectivity increased by 800%, and connections between domestic and international flights jumped by 200%.
The airport is expected to set a new record by the end of this year, totaling 19 million passengers. In 2025, that number was 17,9 million, and in 2022 it was only 5,9 million.
A sporting legacy in harmony with athletes and the community.
Barra Olympic Park
A total of 179 sporting events have been held since 2021, when the legacy plan was resumed after a four-year hiatus, in the municipal arenas of the Olympic Park, ranging from national and continental to world competitions.
In June of this year, the Arena Carioca 1, the Olympic Tennis Center, and the Velodrome were granted to private companies. Even though the concessions are in place, a portion of the resources obtained by the private sector must be allocated to socio-sports initiatives developed in the Olympic Villages.
Velodrome
Games Mode: It hosted the cycling competitions of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Legacy Mode: Sports activities and the Rio Olympic Museum.
- Free sports activities
Until July 2022, the Velodrome was under the administration of the federal government. After the Rio de Janeiro City Hall took over the facility, the space began offering free sports activities to 4.300 people per month, in 34 different sports, cultural or leisure activities.
These are: Stretching - Circus activity - Badminton - Ballet - Basketball - Beach tennis - Running and walking - Dance - Fencing - Functional training - Futsal - Table football - Artistic gymnastics - Rhythmic gymnastics - Handball - Weightlifting - Hockey - Jazz - Jiu Jitsu - Karate - Kickboxing - Olympic weightlifting - Muay Thai - Weight training - Skating - Pilates - Podcast - Rit box - Skateboarding - Taekwondo - Table tennis - Aerial silks - Volleyball and - Zumba.
These activities were developed in Arena 3, which was transformed into the Olympic Experimental Gymnasium (GEO).
- Olympic Museum
Opened in August 2025, the museum is dedicated to the Olympic Movement and to telling the story of the achievement, preparation, and execution of the Rio 2016 Games.
- Competitions
Being the most modern in South America, the Velodrome hosts several national and international cycling competitions throughout the year, as well as other events such as fencing and judo.
Arena Carioca 3
Games Mode: It hosted Taekwondo and Fencing competitions at the Olympics, and Judo at the Paralympics.
Legacy Mode: Isabel Salgado Olympic Educational Gymnasium
The first sports arena in the history of the Olympic and Paralympic Games to be transformed into a municipal public school, GEO Isabel Salgado consists of 24 classrooms, a reception area, a food and nutrition unit, a multipurpose room and another for pedagogical support, a circulation area, restrooms for staff and students, as well as sports facilities with two courts and areas for practicing judo, wrestling, table tennis and gymnastics. It is a full-time school that benefits approximately one thousand students. Currently, there are 12 GEOs throughout the educational network, with a total of 5.494 students.
Nomadic Architecture
When considering the conservation of public resources and the reuse of arenas after the Games, the Rio de Janeiro City Hall used the concept of Nomadic Architecture for some of the facilities.
Arena of the Future
Games Mode: It hosted the Handball competitions at the Olympics and Goalball at the Paralympics.
Legacy Mode:
- Four Technological Educational Gymnasiums (GETs)
In March 2022, the dismantling of the Arena began for its transformation into four schools, located in the neighborhoods of Bangu, Campo Grande, Rio das Pedras, and Santa Cruz, benefiting approximately 1.700 students. Each GET (School Group) consists of ten classrooms, a reading room, a collaborative space, a multi-sports court, and administrative areas.
To build the schools, the municipality used the nomadic architecture concept of the Arena of the Future and took advantage of materials such as breeze blocks (for the facades of arenas), metal structures, electrical, hydraulic and sanitary installations, partitions and sanitary ware.
- Luso-Brazilian Stadium
The grandstand and roof structures of the Arena do Futuro were donated to the Luso-Brasileiro Stadium, owned by Portuguesa, on Ilha do Governador. The donation allowed the stadium's capacity to be increased from 5.044 to 16 spectators.
Olympic Aquatic Stadium
Games Mode: It hosted the swimming competitions of the Olympics and Paralympics.
Legacy Mode:
- Parque oeste
The pool used in the competitions was set up in Parque Oeste. And today it serves two thousand people a month with free swimming and water aerobics activities for all ages.
- Bangu Atlético Clube
Part of the structures were ceded to Bangu Atlético Clube. This measure allowed for the installation of a roof at the social headquarters. The donation also ensured accessibility for people with ASD (autism spectrum disorder) within the club's facilities.
International Broadcasting Centre (IBC)
Games Mode: The International Broadcast Centre (IBC) received more than ten thousand press professionals, who worked in the building where the studios were located and the images for the official broadcasts of the Games were generated.
Legacy Mode: Created from the reuse of part of the steel structures of the (IBC).
The Gentileza Terminal integrates three modes of transport: BRT, light rail, and regular municipal bus lines.
Since its opening, 22,5 million people have passed through the terminal.
Via Olímpica
Games Mode: A circulation and social area within the Olympic Park, which also served to connect the sports arenas and culminated in the "Live Site," an esplanade intended for events in front of the Jacarepaguá Lagoon.
Legacy Mode:
- Rita Lee Park
It has a total area of 136 m², a skate park, a 120 m² climbing wall, multi-sports courts, a children's play area, and a grove with 200 trees. It is located on a route connecting all the main areas of the Olympic Park, such as the arenas, terraces, and the "Live Site," an esplanade for events in front of the Jacarepaguá Lagoon in the Southwest Zone. It has 1.100 trees and 70 shrubs, as well as a basketball wall, an outdoor gym for seniors, a children's playground, furniture, public restrooms, pergolas, colorful flooring, and a bicycle rack. The wet plaza covers 2.600 m² and is formed by 47 metal structures that simulate trees, from which 190 jets of treated water emerge. The water is reused and always undergoes a filtration process before returning to the system.
Deodoro Sports Complex
Considered the second Olympic Park of the Rio 2016 Games, the Deodoro Sports Complex houses the Radical Park, managed by the municipality. Since 2021, 53 sporting events have been held there, ranging from national and continental to world competitions.
Each month, two thousand people benefit free of charge from the activities offered by the sports complex, which includes the Olympic Canoe Stadium and the Olympic BMX Center.
Stretching, ballet, basketball, boxing, canoeing, capoeira, dance (rhythms), ballroom dancing, physiotherapy, functional training, water aerobics, jump, karate, muay thai, weight training, swimming, swimming for people with disabilities, pilates, zumba, in addition to a mountain bike track, a Competitive Cycling Protection Area (APCC) and a Triathlon Training Protection Area (APTT), and a swimming pool open on weekends.
Olympic Stadium for Canoe Slalom
Games Mode: It hosted the canoe slalom competitions.
Legacy Mode: Besides serving as a training ground for athletes and hosting competitions, the site, which has an area equivalent to seven Olympic swimming pools, has become a leisure area for Rio de Janeiro residents, especially during the summer. It also offers a large park for the development of free social activities focused on sports and culture. The pool has become an alternative for recreation in the region as it is open to the public on weekends.
BMX Cycling Track
Games Mode: It hosted the BMX cycling competitions.
Legacy Mode: It has two tracks, one of them eight meters high, of Olympic level and suitable for international competitions. The other is five meters high and welcomes amateur athletes who are starting out in the sport. It hosts national and international sporting competitions. In addition to the track, which is located in an area of approximately 4.000 m² in the Radical Park, free activities are offered to two thousand people per month.
The exhibition “The Olympic Tomorrow: Legacy and Future”
The exhibition “The Olympic Tomorrow: Legacy and Future,” at the Museum of Tomorrow, relives the trajectory of the city of Rio in organizing and hosting the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games, but also invites the public to reflect on the legacy we have already built and what we will still build. In the exhibition, visitors will have contact with original relics, such as medals, the Olympic Torch, uniforms, and mascots.
The public will still be able to interact with some of the installations and remember the legacy left by the Games.
“The Olympic Tomorrow: Legacy and Future” can be visited free of charge until October 5th, from Thursday to Tuesday (the museum is closed on Wednesdays), from 10 am to 18 pm (last entry at 17 pm).
Alongside the exhibition, the mayor of Rio, Eduardo Cavaliere, inaugurated two sculptures of the Rio 2016 logos, which will be permanently installed on the exterior of the Museum of Tomorrow. They were created by the CEO of Tátil Design, Fred Gelli, who designed the visual identity for the Games.
The logo for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games broke paradigms by being originally conceived as a three-dimensional form, capable of unfolding across different media and experiences. Inspired by the curves of the Rio landscape and the encounter between people, the logo transformed the embrace into its main symbol and helped present to the world an image of Brazil based on welcoming, diversity, and movement.
The Paralympic Games' identity also represented a step forward, being conceived as a multi-sensory brand, designed to engage with different forms of perception and reflect the principles of inclusion and diversity of the Paralympic movement.
– An Olympics doesn't end with the closing ceremony. It remains in the way the city recognizes itself and is recognized by the world. When we created the logos for the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games, we wanted to translate the energy, the landscape, and the welcoming nature of Rio's inhabitants. Ten years later, seeing them incorporated into the public space and the city's collective imagination reinforces the importance of visual identities as milestones of great transformations. More than representing an event, these logos synthesize a moment that continues to be part of Rio de Janeiro's memory and identity forever – said Gelli.
Kindness Terminal
Residents of Rio de Janeiro will also be able to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games at the Gentileza Intermodal Terminal. An Instagrammable backdrop and an Olympic Torch, where the public can take photos, have been installed at the terminal.
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