Brazilian Olympic Training Center Receives $8M In Federal Funding For Renovation

The "base" of the Brazilian national teams' final preparations prior to the 2016 Rio Games, the Fort São João in Rio de Janeiro, "will receive an investment" of R$23.9M ($8M) from the federal government, according to Paulo Roberto Conde of FOLHA DE SÃO PAULO. The Brazilian Sports Ministry, "which is paying for the project," said that the sum will cover the "renovation of the courts, gym floors, wrestling rooms and the purchase of equipment for the military structure." In total, R$20.4M ($6.8M) will be for the "betterment of the Center of Physical Exercise" and R$3.5M ($1.2M) is for the Naval School -- which is "focused on the sailing training center." The Brazilian Olympic Committee (COB) foresees that "16 sports will utilize" the facility. Additionally, since the facility is a military base, it "has restricted access," which "weighed in for the COB's choice." The committee wanted to "guarantee isolation for the athletes" to train (FOLHA DE SÃO PAULO, 4/16).