Rio 2016 looks ahead to a year of milestones

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The Rio 2016 Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games is entering 2015 with a packed agenda. In the year before the greatest show on earth comes to South America for the first time, there will be plenty to get the heart racing.

Venue will be completed, tickets will go on sale, more than 20 test events will be staged and the route of the torch relay will be revealed. It is impossible not to be excited with just over 18 months to go until the Paralympic Games begin on 7 September 2016.

“We enter 2015 knowing it will be a crucial year for us,” said Rio 2016 President Carlos Nuzman. “We have great challenges and deliveries in front of us: the test events, the torch, our culture programme... the countdown starts to enter the final straight and, in a little over a year, Rio de Janeiro and the whole world will witness excellent and memorable Games.”

ere are some of the milestones coming up for Rio 2016 in 2015:

Venues

With construction progressing at full steam, eight venues are scheduled for completion this year: Carioca Arenas 1, 2 and 3, the Future Arena, Olympic Tennis Centre and Rio Olympic Velodrome, as well as the Main Press Centre (MPC) and International Broadcast Centre (IBC).

Tickets

Eager to book seats for the first Olympic and Paralympic Games in South America? In 2015 you will be able to. Keep an eye on the Rio 2016 tickets website, because soon you will have the opportunity to register and receive exclusive information.

Test events

A fundamental part of preparing for the Games, test events provide an opportunity for the organising committee and athletes to trial competition venues, and in some cases, give fans a chance to get into the spirit of the Games. In the second half of 2015, more than 20 test events will be staged in the four Games regions across Rio.

Torch

Curious about the route it will follow and the design of the torch? Details will be revealed in 2015, and the process of selecting torch bearers to participate in the relay will also commence.

Culture

The culture programme will be launched this year, opening the way for a great festival in 2016. The idea is to provide the population with access to various forms of artistic expression – dance, music, visual arts, literature, performing arts and popular culture – and encourage the public to submit suggestions for projects.

Education

Transforma, the Rio 2016 education programme, is set to cross the Rio de Janeiro state boundary in 2015 and reach out to other parts of Brazil. It is designed to promote Olympic and Paralympic values and bring the public closer to the Games. Activities are currently under way in 168 state and municipal schools in Rio, benefitting 100,000 pupils.

Licensing

Good news for those who are anxious to buy licensed products for the Rio 2016 Games, such as the mascot soft toys. In 2015, the online store will be up and running and the first shops are set to open.