Embassy in Brazil Prepares for Road to Rio 2016

Jamaican Ambassador to Brazil, Her Excellency Alison Stone Roofe, says her embassy staff has already started preparations to capitalise on the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

“We are starting early to put plans in place, both logistics and cultural, and to be available for any initiative which the government has in relation to the Road to Rio in 2016. So, we are speaking to the necessary players early in the game and we hope to be very ready to welcome the Jamaicans who will visit the Olympics and our teams,” the Ambassador told JIS News in an interview.

She said the Embassy will be working with Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO) and the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), “to see how we roll out effectively and be able to host it in a very organized and smooth way.”

Reflecting on work done during the FIFA 2014 World Cup in Brazil, Ambassador Stone Roofe said that most Jamaicans who visited the country during the period had a good experience in Brazil.

“So, we would hope to be collaborating with the government over the next several months to see how we replicate that for the Rio Olympics in 2016,” she added.

The Ambassador said the Embassy recently partnered with the Sindicato do Reggae (Reggae Syndicate) of Brasilia, an organisation dedicated to promoting roots Reggae in Brazil, since 1980, to stage the first Jamaica cultural festival, featuring Jerk foods and reggae music.

“The festival was staged with several motives in mind, primarily the launch of the Embassy’s road to Rio 2016 public diplomacy efforts, aimed at building up a solid Jamaican presence in Brazil through the marketing of Jamaican products,” she said.

The event was also an opportunity to introduce Jamaican condiments to the Brazilian market, along with other Jamaican products and services. It was attended by members of the diplomatic and international community, Brazilian government officials, business persons and Brazilian citizens.

Ambassador Stone Roofe pointed out that the event was also held to mark the second year since the establishment of the Embassy in Brazil.

“We hope now to move into the next phase of working in terms of how we approach trade and investment opportunities, how we roll out our Road to Rio in anticipation of  2016, so that would mean that the next several months will be very busy,” she said.