Eduardo Paes

Eduardo Paes is the Mayor of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, currently serving his fourth term. He oversaw the 2016 Rio Olympic and Paralympic Games — the first in South America — delivering a long-term legacy program that transformed Rio’s urban landscape through major mobility projects and the revitalisation of the Port Zone. This legacy plan also included a strong social component, with Olympic venues repurposed into educational facilities. Paes led Rio through major global events, including the 2012 UN Rio+20, the 2014 FIFA World Cup, and the 2024 G20 Summit — milestones that elevated the city’s international profile and modernised its landscape. He is globally recognized for his leadership in sustainable development and was the first mayor from the Global South to chair the C40 Cities Network. 

“By welcoming Rio, the World Union of Olympic Cities enhances its geographic balance, adding Latin America’s perspective to an extraordinary platform for collaboration among Olympic Cities.”