#RioOlympicspreparations #worstIhaveeverseen, says #IOCvicepresident • #JohnCoates delivers #damningassessment of #2016Games • We are #veryconcerned but #thereisnoplanB Rio 2016 Olympic preparations damned as worst ever by IOC The #WorldCup and #Olympics #threaten to #overwhelmRio – but theres still time Share 2253 Tweet this Email Reuters theguardian, Tuesday 29 April 2014 09.59 BST Jump to comments (260) Could not load plugins: File not found Link to video: Rio Olympics 2016 preparations the worst, says IOC vice-president John Coates, the vice-president of the International Olympic Committee, has called Brazils preparations for the 2016 Rio Games the worst in his experience and critically behind schedule, but warned there was no plan B to find another host. Attending an Olympic forum in Sydney, Coates told delegates that construction had not commenced on some venues, infrastructure was significantly delayed and water quality was also a major concern two years out from the Games. The IOC has formed a special task force to try to speed up preparations but the situation is critical on the ground, Coates said on Tuesday in a statement released by the Australian Olympic Commission, which transcribed some of his comments at the forum. The IOC has adopted a more hands-on role, it is unprecedented for the IOC but there is no plan B. We are going to Rio. We have become very concerned, they are not ready in many, many ways. We have to make it happen and that is the IOC approach, you cant walk away from this. Cones and barricades sit at the entrance to Olympic Park in Rio Cones and barricades sit at the entrance to Olympic Park in Rio. Photograph: Mario Tama/Getty Images The AOC statement also paraphrased Coates describing the Rio preparations as the worst I have experienced and worse than Athens. He added that the host city Rio de Janeiro also had social issues that need to be addressed. Preparations for the 2004 Athens Games were plagued by delays in construction and service delivery but the sports venues and main infrastructure were ultimately delivered in the nick of time. The first Games on the South American continent have been plagued by delays, rising costs and bad communication between different levels of the Brazilian government and organisers, prompting criticism from international sports federations. Brazil has been under the spotlight for the far more immediate concern of the football World Cup starting in June. Amid problems with stadium construction, labour unrest and security in other parts of the country, thousands of troops occupied Rios slums in February to wrest them back from the control of drug gangs and criminals. The IOC announced a series of measures earlier this month to speed up lagging preparations including extra monitors, project managers and teams of experts. theguardian/sport/2014/apr/29/rio-2016-olympics-worst-preparations-ioc?guni=Resource:promo%20Gigantic%20pixie%20bar:microapp%20gigantic-pixie-bar:Gigantic%20Pixie%20Bar%20component:Position2
Posted on: Tue, 29 Apr 2014 20:13:43 +0000
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