ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the city of Rio de Janeiro's bid for the 2016 Olympic Games. It explains the politics underpinning the bid, including the rationale for bidding, and the political, economic and social circumstances in Rio (and Brazil) at that time. The chapter illustrates the approaches to persuasion adopted by the Rio bid organisers, including the key narratives developed, the technical promises made and the campaigning tactics employed. It draws attention to the (limited) expressions of opposition and resistance to the bid, and concludes by drawing out some insights from the Rio bid for future bid campaigns. Rio's bid offered the citizens of Rio the prospect of being the first South American Olympic host, alongside material improvements to the city's transport infrastructures, housing, sport facilities and global standing. One of the principal strategies adopted by organisers is to incorporate popular political leaders, celebrities, and minority groups to back the bid, neutralising opposition in the process.
