Rio Mayor Pushing for Brazilian 'Pokemon Go' Launch in Time for Summer Olympics

Every four years, elite athletes from around the globe flock to the Olympics in search of world-class opponents and universal recognition. 

But this summer, Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Paes is hoping to recruit rivals of a different variety: Pokemon trainers. 

In a Facebook invitation to Nintendo, which owns the company Niantic that created Pokemon Go, Paes welcomed the launch of the wildly popular smartphone gaming app in time for Brazilian opening ceremonies on August 5. 

Currently, the augmented reality game is only available in Australia, New Zealand, Germany, the U.S. and UK, and there are no public plans to include the South American nation...yet. But it's easy to imagine some serious cross-competition amusement.

Michael Phelps swimming alongside a Gyarados?

Equestrians riding Ponytas?

DeMarcus Cousins working Geodude inside the paint?

The pitch practically writes itself.

[Facebook, h/t CNN Money]