A BRADFORD-born UK Government official in Brazil is gearing up to start preparations for next year's Rio Olympics.

Wasim Mir moved to South America in June last year to become the deputy head of mission to the British Ambassador to Brazil, Alex Ellis.

His role started in July and over the next three years he will act as an advisor, help support British nationals abroad and forge trade links between the UK and Brazil.

Mr Mir is also working towards getting 10,000 Brazilian students to the UK under the Brazilian Government's Science Without Borders project.

He said: "I can't believe six months has passed since I arrived in Brazil. It has been a busy and exciting time.

"My role here has been extremely varied ranging from signing agreements with Brazilian Ministers, to working to support the rights of indigenous tribes and dealing with the flooding of the Embassy after a recent storm.

"A focus of my work has been education. So far we haven't had many Brazilian students going to Bradford University in the Government's Science Without Borders project, so there is scope to do better.

"I have also been involved with our work to increase UK Exports and Investment in the UK.

"The size of Brazil means I have had to spend a lot of time on planes.

"This year is likely to be even busier as we start preparations for the Rio Olympics in 2016."

Mr Mir's previous role was as deputy director in charge of projects in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London.

He l;eft Bradford at 18, but he has never forgotten his Yorkshire roots and his mother still lives in Chellow Dene.

Mr Mir, who was a student at Rhodesway School, now known as Dixons Allerton Academy, lived with a Brazilian family for his first six weeks in the country while he started to learn Portuguese.

He joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 1998 and worked as a senior advisor to the president of the UN Assembly between 2010 and 2011.