Rio de Janeiro welcomed the New7Wonders team with arms as open as those of the Christ Redeemer statue high on the Corcovado mountain above the city. After everyone took the historic Corcovado train up the steep hill through jungle-like vegetation, the ceremony began with a military band playing Brazil's national anthem, followed by a chorus singing one of the most famous and best-loved local songs about the city. True Brazilian energy and passion came through as the audience joined in for both songs. Several lively speeches followed, led by Savio Neves, the Director of the Corcovado Train and hence of the entire monument site, who called for Brazilians of all ages to vote for the Christ Redeemer. Paulo Senise, the Executive Director of the Rio Convention and Visitors Bureau, underlined how much welcoming foreigners was a part of the Brazilian mentality - whether tourists or, historically, people from many different cultures. Officials from the Brazilian government, the Rio de Janeiro Chamber of Commerce and the National Parks institution spoke and appealed to all the various segments of the Brazilian population to support their greatest national monument. The moving final remarks came from Jairzinho ("Furacao" or"Hurricane"), the world-renowned soccer player who not only scoredseven goals during the 1970 World Cup, which Brazil won, but also worethe number 7 jersey. The official certificate of candidacy was handed to Cardinal Eusebio Oscar Scheid in front of the statue framed by brilliant blue skies spotted with few clouds
