SAO PAULO: Organisers of the 2016 Olympics have acknowledged there are issues to be resolved in preparing Rio de Janeiro to host the event but said yesterday they were making progress and would deliver a “great Games”.
The guarantees came a day after international sporting federations, meeting in Turkey, criticised the Brazilian government for the slow pace of work and a lack of institutional support.
“We are fully aware of the issues that need to be resolved. We are grateful for the input from all stakeholders,” Rio2016 said in a statement.
“Progress has been made in the past two weeks, since the last visit of the IOC Coordination Commission for Rio 2016.
“We move ahead every single day.
“There is absolutely no question in our minds that Rio will deliver great Games.”
Although Rio won the right to host the event in 2009, construction work at venues where eight events will take place has yet to start and the pace of progress at others is slow.
Sailors have criticised the filthy waters where the sailing events will take place and strikes have crippled some projects.
Shots were fired on Monday after construction workers downed tools and blocked roads outside the Olympic Park, one of the games’ main venues.
But Rio officials said they were working hard to alleviate the concerns and get the city ready.
“We have listened carefully to the comments made in Turkey by the International Sport Federations (IFs),” the statement added.
“We have taken their concerns on board. We talked with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board today. The commitment to be frank and to work closely together was renewed.
“That is the spirit of partnership that we cherish.”
Rio will become the first South American city to host the Olympics.
Brazil is also hosting soccer’s World Cup in 12 cities in June and July.
Three of the 12 arenas are still unfinished with 64 days until the tournament kicks off, and some airports and public transportation projects are so far behind schedule the government has admitted they will not be ready in time.
LAUSANNE: Austrian cross country skier Johannes Duerr and Polish bobsleigher Daniel Zalewski were yesterday sanctioned by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for failing drug controls at the Sochi Olympics.
Duerr, 27, has been disqualified from the men’s skiathlon in which he finished eighth after testing positive on February 22 for the banned substance recombinant erythropoietin (EPO).
Zalewski tested positive for the stimulant phenethylamine on February 23, and has also been disqualified.
The Polish four-man team placed 27th.
Austria’s ski federation confirmed that Duerr would be barred from the federation for life -- a move it already threatened after the doping allegations in Sochi came to light.
The Polish federation have yet to decide on an eventual suspension for Zalewski.
A total of seven athletes tested positive at the Sochi Games but Swedish ice hockey star Nicklas Backstrom was later cleared of wrong doing by the IOC and allowed to keep his silver medal. REUTERS
