This year, the 27th of April will be celebrated not only for Freedom Day, but it will also mark the 100-day countdown for the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games-Rio 2016, which will take place at the Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, on August 5th 2016.
In this context, the Embassy of Brazil in Pretoria, the City of Joburg, the City of Cape Town and the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) partnered in order to express their support for the Olympic and Paralympic Games by illuminating both Table Mountain in Cape Town and the Nelson Mandela Bridge in Johannesburg in yellow and/or green lights, colours of both Brazil and South Africa.
Photo Credits: Wessel Oosthuizen
The initiative is part of a simultaneous and multiple action promoted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brazil along with Governments of other countries and cities. Buildings and monuments are also being illuminated on April 27th 2016 in Brazil (Brasilia and Rio de Janeiro), Argentina (Buenos Aires), Great Britain (London), Greece (Athens), Italy (Rome), Japan (Tokyo), Mexico (Mexico City), Qatar (Doha), South Korea (Seoul) and the United States of America (Atlanta).
South Africa is representing the whole continent of Africa in this international celebration, with the participation of Cape Town and Johannesburg.
SASCOC CEO, Tubby Reddy added: “With just three months to go before the Rio Olympics, the excitement at Olympic House is mounting every day. As a collective, the athletes and administrators have all worked extremely hard around the clock to ensure that the Rio Olympics will once again be another event to document in our proud sporting history.”
“I have absolutely no doubt that Team SA will rise to the occasion and do us proud. SASCOC wishes all athletes well as they embark upon the final leg in their preparations.”
With the lighting of the Nelson Mandela Bridge, Table Mountain, the City of Johannesburg, the City of Cape Town, the Embassy of Brazil in Pretoria and the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee pay tribute to the Olympic spirit of peace, friendship, cooperation and mutual understanding.
Source: SASCOC
