Brazilian billionaire Eike Batista has donated 10 million reals - $4.5 million – to Rio de Janeiro’s bid to host the 2016 Olympic Games.
The USA Today newspaper reports that Batista gave the cheque to Carlos Arthur Nuzman, president of the Brazilian Olympic Committee during a ceremony attended by local and national politicians.
Batista’s mining, energy, steel and oil interests are estimated to be worth nearly $20 billion.
Also on Tuesday, an IOC evaluation commission wrapped up its visit to Chicago one of Rio’s main rivals in the race to host the Games.
The commission will report in September on its findings during visits to candidate cities Chicago, Madrid, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo. The full IOC will select the host city on October 2 in Copenhagen, Denmark.
