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WATG’s vision for the Rio 2016 Olympic Park
WATG's Olympic Park vision is to create a vibrant destination, merging athletics with cultural heritage and urban ecology. The park will provide Brazilians with the opportunity to connect and celebrate with the world during the Olympic Games and will highlight the Cariocan passion for life and optimism for the future.
The Cloud Bridge, inspired by the meandering Amazon river, is significant in that it represents connections: connecting South America to the globe; athletes to a venue for celebration in Olympic Park; ecology to the community. It provides unique experiences, including botanical displays of indigenous plant species, scenic vantage points and interpretive ecology encounters reminiscent of the rainforest. The Mountain Forest Habitats are ecological terra-formed knolls with indigenous bio-diverse plantings to celebrate the flora and fauna of Mata Atlântica and pay homage to the distinctive topography of Rio de Janeiro through interpretive displays and experiences. The uniquely shaped mountains will also function as reference points to facilitate wayfinding for visitors.
The heart of Olympic Park is Carioca Plaza, an intersection of sports, culture and ecology. The plaza will be the venue for celebrations, ceremonies, gathering and people-watching. Framed by an impressive waterfall that plunges from Cloud Bridge, light and video will be projected on the waterfall to transform the plaza in the evenings. Tree structures above the waterfall create a forest of shade along the bridge and over the plaza and will be used to capture rainwater. Olympic Park will be an ecological masterpiece, featuring a forested paradise and cultural landscape woven into the bustling urban fabric of Rio de Janeiro. It is intended to be a meaningful source of pride for Brazilians, and to inspire athletic excellence amongst a generation of youth. Olympic Park will serve as a catalyst to transform Rio de Janeiro through sport and celebration.
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