CCTV9英语新闻：Preparations for athletes and spectators being finalized（在线收听）

The final countdown to Rio 2016 has commenced. The opening ceremony will take place on August 5th in the famous Maracana stadium to kick off the start of the global showpiece that will include 28 different events with 306 medals up for grabs.

It was 7 years ago that then IOC President, Count Jacques Rogge, announced Rio as the winning bid to host this year's summer games with the organisation's delagates voting in favour of the Brazilian city over Madrid, 66 to 32. Chicago and Tokyo also had hopes of hosting but were eliminated after the first round of the selection process.

Many other Brazilian cities to help with hosting duties

It's been a long process to get everything finalised for the start of the first ever summer games on the South American continent. Most of the venues will be located in the Barra da Tijuca area of the city which will also house the athletes at the Olympic village.

The open water sports will take place on the famous Copacabana Beach with other cities, such as Sao Paulo, Belo Horizonte, Salvador Manaus and the capital Brasilia taking up hosting duties, most notably with football.

Rugby Sevens to make debut at Summer Games 

These games will also feature golf for the first time in 112 years after the IOC decided it's growing popularity warrants a place. The popular Rugby sevens has also been included for the first time.

All of this was decided back in 2009 when the committee analysed which sports should be added or taken away. Baseball and squash were unsuccessful in being included. Though rugby has not been featured in any form since the 1924 Summer Olympics, the IOC chose to introduce the seven-a-side version of the sport for these Games for both men and women.

Kosovo and South Sudan to participate for first time

More than 10,000 athletes will decend upon Rio from 206 different nations which include Kosovo and South Sudan for the first time. The European migrant crisis has led to the creation of a special team of refugee athletes which will compete under the Olympic flag and welcomes those from war torn countries seeking asylum.