By Jay Forte, Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Last week the Zona Oeste (West Zone) in Rio inaugurated the Parque Radical at the Deodoro Sports Complex, which was opened to the public on Wednesday, December 23. With 500,000 square meters, the Olympic venue and park has become the second largest leisure area of the city.
During the Rio 2016 Games, the Deodoro venue will host three Olympic disciplines: Kayak Slalom, BMX Cycling and Mountain Bike. Yet for the summer, the aquatic part of the facility will be available to the public.
Authorities predict approximately 1.5 million people will benefit, especially residents of nearby neighborhoods, Campo dos Afonsos, Deodoro, Guadalupe, Jardim Sulacap, Magalhães Bastos, Parque Anchieta, Realengo, Ricardo de Albuquerque and Vila Militar; and neighboring municipalities Nilópolis, Nova Iguaçu and Mesquita.
Mayor Eduardo Paes announced to the crowd in Deodoro, waiting in the hot sun for more than three hours, to enter the water park area, as an early legacy of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. “It will be the best beach in Rio de Janeiro,” said Paes, on Wednesday (23), before shouting: “Open this gate!”
The water park will be open to the public until March 1st, when it becomes an Olympic facility for the Deodoro zone, being delivered to the Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games Rio 2016. Until then the park will be open Wednesday to Sunday, from 8AM to 6PM, and closed on Mondays and Tuesdays for maintenance.
The park has free entrance and capacity for up to three thousand people a day, but all must submit an identity document and pass through the registration desk. Guests will receive a wristband that identifies those older than eighteen, those younger than twelve years may only enter accompanied by an adult.
The Sports Minister George Hilton, and the president of Rio 2016 Organizing Committee, Carlos Nuzman, attended the party inauguration event with the mayor.