Rio De Janeiro Olympic Committee Ready For Mascot Selection For 2016 Games

The Local Organizing Committe of the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic and Paralympic Games "initiated the process for the selection of the mascot," according to Vinicius Konchinski of UOL.com.br. The organization "launched the process to contract a company" that will develop the mascot for the Games. Rio 2016 Branding Dir Beth Lula said that the committee will pay R$50,000 ($24,574) to the company that is chosen for the project. Lula added that only Brazilian companies would be considered and that the mascot "will only be revealed to the public in '14." Lula also said that no decision has been made as to whether the population "will be able to give its opinion" when it comes to the name for the mascot. FIFA is currently running an online poll that allows fans to vote on the name they like best for the 2014 World Cup mascot. It will be "at least a year and a half" before the public learns what the possible mascot options for the Rio Games will be (UOL.com.br, 11/5).