Rio set to add Olympic football venue

The Maracana stadium in Rio

Rio de Janeiro, Jan 6 (IANS)

Organisers in Rio are considering adding an extra venue to the 2016 Olympic football tournament. Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Belo Horizonte, Salvador and Brasilia are already guaranteed to host matches during the event, the Games' top official said Monday, reports Xinhua.

Local organising committee president Carlos Nuzman said a sixth venue could be chosen from Recife, Natal, Manaus, Porto Alegre, Curitiba, Fortaleza and Cuiaba.

"There is a desire from FIFA to use stadiums from the World Cup," Nuzman told Folha de S. Paulo.

"We have to discuss their participation. I hope a decision will be made by the time the International Olympic Committee (IOC) visits in February."

The London 2012 Olympic football competition featured six host cities -- London, Manchester, Cardiff, Newcastle, Glasgow and Coventry.