IOC program grants support to 12 promising Brazilian athletes to assist them in preparing for Tokyo 2020

The athletes were selected by the Brazilian Olympic Committee and, from now on, will count on assistance to train and prepare for the Olympic Games

On Wednesday the 25th, the Brazilian Olympic Committee (COB) presented 12 promising young Brazilian athletes who were selected for the scholarships granted by the Olympic Solidarity Program of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), in their quest for a place in the Brazilian delegation to the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. From now on, they will be entitled to financial assistance to cover the cost of training, preparation and competing while seeking qualification for the Games.

"COB singled out young individual sport athletes with a record of good results in their respective categories and potential for short term development to compete for a slot in the Tokyo Games. The selected athletes were vetted by the International Olympic Committee, the International Federations and the Brazilian Olympic Confederations", says Adriana Behar, COB Sport Planning manager and Olympic medalist in beach volley. "I hope this support will encourage them to continue training hard, delivering good performances and that this scholarship will be used wisely to help them meet their needs in winning the Olympic slot they are dreaming of", Adriana adds.

The athletes were presented held at the Team Brazil Training Center, built by COB at the Maria Lenk Aquatic Center, in Rio de Janeiro. Nine out of the 12 athletes attended the ceremony: Jéssica Pereira (judo), Bruna Takahashi (table tennis); Thais Fidelis, Bernardo Actos (artistic gymnastics), Viviane Jungblut (swimming marathon), Edival Marques (taekwondo), Guilherme Costa (swimming), Isaac de Souza Filho (diving) and Marcelo Costa Filho (archery). Beatriz Rodrigues de Souza (judo), Beatriz Ferreira (boxing) and Paulo André Camilo (athletics) are the other names on the list, but they were unable to attend the event. IOC member Bernard Rajzman, was also present.

After the presentation, the athletes toured the facilities of Team Brazil Training Center, where over 200 athletes, from 12 different disciplines, are training regularly. In the Power and Conditioning Room they were welcomed by gymnast Flávia Saraiva, who ranked fifth in the balance beam event at the Olympic Games Rio 2016. Flavinha was one of the athletes who enjoyed the benefits of the Olympic Solidarity Program during the last Olympic cycle. "It was a big help, it enabled me to achieve all this. You’re all very welcome" the gymnast said while delivering a Time Brasil shirt to the new scholarship holders.

BRAZIL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE

Media Relations

imprensa@cob.org.br

Av. das Américas, 899. Barra da Tijuca.

22.631-000, Rio de Janeiro – RJ.

As a service to our readers, Around the Rings will provide verbatim texts of selected press releases issued by Olympic-related organizations, federations, businesses and sponsors.

These press releases appear as sent to Around the Rings and are not edited for spelling, grammar or punctuation.

25 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is www.aroundtherings.com, for subscribers only