Pele plays host to Int'l Olympic Committee in Brazil

Pele plays host to Int'l Olympic Committee in Brazil

Brazilian soccer legend Pele (L) plays with International Olympic Committee (IOC) member Nawal El Moutawakel during an inspection visit at Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro May 1, 2009.

RIO DE JANEIRO, May 1 -- Former soccer star and legend Pele served Friday as the guide inside the historic Maracana soccer stadium to attract the votes of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) commission for the 2016 Olympic Games in the candidate city of Rio de Janeiro.

Juggling, passing balls and even signing memorabilia, the ambassador to Rio's Olympic candidacy showed the inspectors around the stadium's facilities.

Pele sat down and had an in-depth conversion with the president of the commission and ex-athlete of the Moroccan team of Nawal El Moutawekel.

Pele was quoted as referring to the IOC representatives as "children" in relation to their enjoyment and fun had at Maracana.

The commission will head next to Madrid, Spain, where they will evaluate the country's capacity to hold the 2016 Games.

According to Pele, "the commission was quite impressed. They told me that they had no idea that Rio de Janeiro was so wonderful. They said that they want to come back to visit apart from word."

The commission has already visited the candidate cities of Chicago and Tokyo. The announcement of the host city will be made on October 2 of this year.


Brazilian soccer legend Pele (yellow shirt) poses with members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) during an inspection visit to Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, May 1, 2009.


Brazilian soccer legend Pele (L) signs a ball for International Olympic Committee (IOC) member Nawal El Moutawakel during an inspection visit at Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro May 1, 2009.


Brazilian soccer legend Pele (L) plays with International Olympic Committee (IOC) member Nawal El Moutawakel during an inspection visit at Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro May 1, 2009.
(Xinhua)