The Moroccan, the 1984 Olympic 400 metres champion, made her remarks as the IOC Evaluation Commission she is chairng wrapped up its five-day visit to Rio.

 

It is the third of the four cities bidding for the 2016 Olympics that they have visited following earlier trips to Chicago and Tokyo.

 

El Moutawakel appeared to dispell fears that Brazil would be unable to host two such mega-events in such a short period of time.

 

She said: "The World Cup 2014 can be a good test event for the Olympic Games.

 

"There is only one sport [in the World Cup] and only one stadium will be in Rio."

 

She was supported by GIlbert Felli, the IOC's executive director for the Olympic Games.

 

He said: "It is something we witnessed in the past.

 

"Three countries - [West] Germany, US and Mexico - held the Cup and the Games two years' apart.

 

"Of course there are some challenges in some aspects of the preparation, but I would say the benefits are greater than the risk because most of the infrastructure for the Games would be prepared for the World Cup."
 

As she has done in previous cities, El Moutawakel refused to criticise any aspects of the bid or offer comparisons against its rivals.

 

She said: "We have been most impressed to find what Rio has to offer to the Olympic Movement.

 

"During out stay we witnessed the leadership of the Brazilian Olympic Committee and the unity of all three levels of Government.

 

"All I can say is that everything we saw was positive.

 

"We were impressed by the fact that the Games fits perfectly into Brazil's long-term planning development of the country

.

"This Olympic Games comes right in the middle of a global vision led by President Lula [Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva]."

 

 

The IOC team spent five days inspecting sports venues and media facilities, along with plans for security, transportation and the overall infrastructure of the city.

 

El Moutawakel praised the plans for the Barra da Tijuca area, which is considered the heart of the city's bid.

 

The suburb would host the Athletes' and Media Villages and contain the biggest cluster of venues.

 

She said: "Our work is to be the eyes and ears of the IOC members.

 

"And we have seen so many valuable venues that Brazilians can be proud of, such as the legacy of the [2007] Pan American Games [in Rio]."

 

The IOC admitted that they were pleasantly pleased with security, which was expected to be an Achilles heel for Rio's bid.

 

Felli said: "The security and the safety are a top priority.

 

"We were surprised with the presentation about the new approach of the Brazilian Government with the subject, that has already brought some success."

 

Carlos Roberto Osorio, the general secretary of Rio 2016, was upbeat after the IOC visit, claiming that they had impressed them and that the presence of Lula had been pivotal.

 

He said: "Brazil showed its A-team.

 

"We didn't show anyone by video.

 

"Anyone who was important came to Rio.

 

"This is very important for us.

 

"This is game-changing for Rio.

 

"We know the benefits of staging the Olympics.

 

"Doing this in Brazil does not mean there will be any technical compromises.

 

"This will be A-class.

 

"This is not just one more event for us.

 

"This is the event. 

 

"We are tropical, we are colourful, we are different."

 

The Commission will now travel directly to Madrid for its final inspection tour.

 

They will produce a report for IOC members that is due to be published on September 2.

 

The IOC will vote on the host city for 2016 at its Session in Copenhagen on October 2.

 

Duncan Mackay is the publisher and editor of insidethegames