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FOREWORD BY THOMAS BACHPRESIDENT, INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEEAs the world prepares to gather in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to celebrate the Games of the XXXI Olympiad, we are reminded of the power of sport to bring people together in peace and friendship. The excitement is building with every day as we approach the Opening Ceremony in August of the first-ever Olympic Games to be held on South American soil. This will be Brazil’s moment and these will be Brazil’s Olympic Games. We know the current economic and political situation in Brazil will continue to make the final preparations challenging. Despite these challenges, I am convinced that the Olympic Games Rio 2016 will be truly spectacular. Like no other human activity, sport is about bringing people together in the spirit of solidarity, friendship and respect. The joy and enthusiasm that have accompanied the Olympic flame during the Olympic Torch Relay show the integrative and unifying power of sport. These Olympic Games will be a symbol of hope in troubled times and a powerful example that humankind is at its best whenever we come together. The Olympic flame is carrying this important message to all corners of Brazil, and indeed the world. Rio de Janeiro, with the support of all Brazilians, will provide a spectacular stage to showcase the best of the human spirit. This message of unity and solidarity is also expressed through the creation of the Refugee Olympic Team that the IOC has initiated for the Olympic Games Rio 2016. By welcoming this team of refugees on an equal basis with the 206 National Olympic Committees, we want to send a message of hope to all refugees in our world that they are not forgotten. Having no national team to belong to, having no flag to march behind, having no national anthem, these refugee athletes will be welcomed to the Olympic Games with the Olympic flag and with the Olympic Anthem. They will have a home together with all the other athletes in the Olympic Village. Amid the human tragedy of the global refugee crisis, these refugee Olympic athletes will be a symbol of hope for all the world’s refugees. In this way, these Olympic Games will be a reminder that the spirit of Olympism is more relevant than ever in today’s world. As the excitement builds for the Olympic Games, it is important to remember that athletes are the heart of the Olympic Movement. Protecting the clean athletes is always a top priority for the IOC. During the Olympic Games, the athletes will be at the centre of the world’s attention. In order to ensure that their sporting achievements are not tainted by doubt or suspicion, the IOC has recently taken decisive measures to protect the clean athletes, by retesting selected doping samples from previous Olympic Games. The retests were focused on athletes who could potentially participate at the Olympic Games Rio 2016 and were conducted using the very latest scientific analysis methods. These and all other anti-doping efforts have one clear message: there is no place to hide for drug cheats. Through such measures we are once more showing our determination to protect the integrity of Olympic competitions so that the magic of the Games can unfold in Rio de Janeiro.In the pages that follow, I invite you to read how the host city and its people are preparing for the Games, and to share in the excitement of what the world will discover when they begin on 5 August. In addition to venues and infrastructure that will leave lasting legacies, preparations for the Olympic Games Rio 2016 have included a wealth of projects intended to enhance the social landscape and the lives of the population, such as the youth-focused Transforma schools project and Fight for Peace. Along with the people of Brazil, we look forward to welcoming you all to the celebration that will be the Olympic Games Rio 2016. ■Above right The Olympic flame is a symbol of hope for people in Brazil and across the globeOLYMPIC REVIEW 7PRESIDENT BACH FOREWORD