EBX Group has pledged another US$6.9 million to the Rio de Janeiro bid to host the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The company, owned by entrepreneur Eike Batista, has already handed over more than US$5 million in a separate arrangement as the city seeks to take the Olympics to South America for the first time. The International Olympic Committee will decide on the venue in October. Madrid, Chicago and Tokyo are Rio's competitors.

"We are in the final stages of the campaign and there's a great sense of unity," said Carlos Arthur Nuzman, president of the Rio 2016 bid committee. "We are honored by the confidence shown by EBX and the other sponsors; it underpins the certainty of our bid and the widespread support in the business community. Since he first encountered Rio 2016, Eike Batista has become a very enthusiastic supporter."

Batista added: "We believe that Rio is ready and will win the right to host the Games. The project is of critical importance for the city and country and we will remain committed, supporting the candidature, until the vote. My confidence in victory is even greater because of the dedication of president Lula, the governor, the mayor and the extraordinary team of the Rio 2016 bid committee."

As well as EBX, the Rio 2016 Committee is sponsored by Embratel, TAM and Odebrecht. The latter committed to pay an initial US$1.5 million over the coming months in June.