Banco Bradesco, one of Brazil's leading banks, has joined the Rio de Janeiro bid to host the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games by coming on board as a new official partner.

The US$1.9 million investment is part of Bradesco's new marketing campaign. Bradesco chief exectuive, Luiz Carlos Trabuco Cappi, explained: "We say that Brazil is part of the modern world and Bradesco is part of Brazil. Rio 2016 is a representation of Brazil’s realignment into the international community. It deserves all our support and our help."

"We are very happy with the support of Bradesco, which shows the confidence that Brazilian entrepreneurs have in the project," said Carlos Arthur Nuzman, president of the Rio 2016 Committee. "It encourages for us to work even harder in this final stage of the campaign."

Banco Bradesco has 20 million clients and holds the largest network in the country, with branches in 95 per cent of Brazil.

The Rio 2016 project is already partnered with Embratel, Tam, Odebrecht and EBX and has received support from private enterprise since the early days of the bid.

The host of the 2016 Games will be named on 2nd October in Copenhagen.