Does Rio have the momentum to land the 2016 Olympics?

Rio's bid team did little to dampen the enthusiasm around its chances of landing the 2016 Olympic Games on the eve of its presentation to IOC members.

Rumours have been buzzing in Lausanne that, despite being initially tagged as underdogs, Rio could challenge Tokyo, Madrid and especially Chicago for the honour of staging the event.

Carlos Nuzman, the Rio 2016 president and himself an IOC member, said he felt in a 'very, very comfortable position,' adding: 'We've never been this comfortable on the day of a rehearsal [for such a presentation]. We were very comfortable [rehearsing] in the auditorium.'

The bid team, which has enjoyed the vocal support of the country's president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, has sought to make its proposal unique - at times even making fairly direct comparisons with its competitors.

Sergio Cabral, the governor of the state of Rio de Janeiro, said: 'I don't have any doubt about the positions of Tokyo, Madrid and Chicago. All wonderful cities. The huge difference is that Brazil is ready to host a wonderful games in 2016.

'For the United States, Japan and Spain, it would be just one more Olympic Games. It is very important for our country, for our continent, for our city. That's the difference.'

Of the world's ten biggest economies, he added, Brazil is the only one never to have hosted the Olympic Games.

The vote for the 2016 Olympic Games is on October 2, still 15 weeks away.

The race to host the 2016 Olympics – news from the bid cities

A round-up of the latest press releases sent out by the four candidates.

Madrid

Miguel Ángel Villanueva, councillor for Economy and Employment, says Madrid offers citizens and visitors ‘an infinite’ number of sporting opportunities and venues.

The Spanish Tourism Board has released three new publications targeted at tourists interested in sport.

Chicago

Chicago hosted an ambassador from Tokyo’s bid.

Chicago 2016 chairman and chief executive Patrick Ryan said ‘it was an honour to welcome’ famed comedian and entertainer Kanpei Hazama.

Ryan added: ‘This meeting signifies the power of the Olympic Movement to bring people together from all corners of the world. We wish him safe travels as his global journey continues.’

Tokyo

Tokyo 2016 has formed a strategic partnership with the University of Tsukuba to ‘work towards improving understanding of the role of sport in society and explore the long-term benefits of hosting [the games]’ in the city.

It’s Tokyo 2016’s sixth academic partnership.

Rio

Rio 2016 celebrated World Environment Day with two events:
- the planting of 107 trees in the new Olympic Wood;
- the opening of a new sewage treatment plant.

The bid said the actions ‘reaffirmed the environmental commitment of Rio de Janeiro’s Olympic project.’