Off the wire
• Xinhua world news summary at 0030 GMT, July 9  • Backgrounder: Olympic Games Athens 1896: Coubertin's dream came true  • Backgrounder: Olympic Games Paris 1900: Eclipsed by Exposition Universelle in Coubertin's homeland  • Brazil prepared to respond to any attack during Olympics, confirms defence minister  • Rio will be safe for Olympics, says Brazil's interim president  • Cuba faces tough economic outlook: Raul Castro  • Bolivia, Russia ink accord to build nuclear research center  • Update: Rebel mortar attack kills 30 people in Syria's Aleppo  • Feature: Recycled cardboard used to make low-cost books in Buenos Aires  • Roundup: Fewer Finns demand referendum on joining NATO following likely Brexit  
You are here: 　 Home

Rousseff vows never quit as interim gov't invites her to Olympics

Xinhua, July 9, 2016 Adjust font size:

Suspended Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff vowed on Friday that she would never stand down, one day after she was invited to attend the Rio Olympics in August.

During a march in Sao Paulo organized by the labor movements, Rousseff said "they have asked me and pressured me to resign. But I never will ...because the people gave me 54 million votes," adding that "a woman never quits, because a woman never never stops fighting."

In a press conference Thursday, Brazilian Sports Minister Leonardo Picciani said Rousseff would have a seat on the main podium, alongside other former Brazilian presidents, in recognition of her efforts to bring the games to Brazil.

Picciani made it clear that the interim government does not see Rousseff taking part in the opening ceremony, adding that "the Games were an effort for all of Brazil."

This week, Rousseff stated that she felt she was "the mother" of the Rio Olympic Games and Lula was "the father" as they took charge of all the "preparations and work" needed for the event. Endi