User blog comment:Blazing Flare/MARIO AND SONIC AT THE RIO 2016 OLYMPIC GAMES CONFIRMED/@comment-404345-20150531165303

As far as I can tell, Birdo is a goalkeeper not a playable character just like in the London 2012 games. Glad to see Diddy Kong and Espio is in. Hopefully Rosalina will FINALLY make an appearance on the Olympic Games.