BRASÍLIA: “Rio is ready to welcome the world,” proclaims the official website of the upcoming Rio Olympics 2016. With the world’s biggest sporting event just around the corner, preparations are going on in right earnest across the host country – Brazil. The air cargo industry, on its part, is leaving no stone unturned to ensure logistics is in place.
Brazil has a bigger challenge to face as the host of the Olympics than it did for the 2014 World Cup, with more commercial and charter flights arriving, and more heads of state. Brazil is expected to welcome 14,850 competitors from 206 nations, plus an additional 9.3 million visitors. More than 10,000 athletes will compete in the first ever Olympic Games to be hosted in South America, which lasts from August 5 to 21. The Paralympic Games will take place from September. The quest for Olympic glory will take place at 32 venues across Brazil, including Rio de Janeiro, plus five football co-host cities: Belo Horizonte, Brasília, Manaus, Salvador and São Paulo.
Airports and cargo operators have been bracing up in the run-up to this mega event. Since the beginning of the airport concession in August 2014, RIOgaleão Cargo has invested almost R$ 30 million to improve its infrastructure and operational performance. “The Olympics are a great opportunity to demonstrate our new capabilities and show the global market all that we have done to become one of the most modern and efficient gateways in Latin America. In response to an expected increase of 2,000 tons in cargo imports, we have created an exclusive, fully dedicated space for imports and exports related to the Games,” said Patrick Fehring, Director of RIOgaleão Cargo.
The airport´s Olympic Warehouse measures 2,800 m² with additional areas available as contingencies, especially during the busy period immediately after the Games. The facility counts on dedicated staff and equipment from the airport and all government agencies and operates 24/7, ensuring the speedy processing of shipments.
