We reported yesterday how the construction of several of Rio’s sporting venues, already delayed, were dealt another blow by 70% of the workforce going on strike due to pay increase disputes. Reuters recently released a report showing Rio’s preparations were well behind those for London at a comparable stage before the 2012 Games.
Continuing on this trend, the water polo competition at the 2016 Olympic Games may now need to change venues due to delays involving term disagreements between the state government and the private company managing the intended facility.
Mario Andrada, Director for Communications at the local organizing committee, said simply, “If we hear from the state government that it’s not going to be ready, we’ll have to move.” Andrada indicated that “a decision on whether to change venues would be made ‘in the next few weeks.’
And, it indeed appears a move may be likely, as a project update in January showed renovations to the Julio Delamare Aquatic Park, where the water polo competition is set to take place, were not yet underway. According to Reuters, two sources familiar with the project say that no progress has been made since then.
Using the main swimming venue currently being built at the Olympic Park, as well as using the Maria Lenk Center have both been mentioned as possible relocation options. (Reuters)
It is the friggin Olympics and they can’t build a swimming pool? We assemble pools in Omaha for trials in 2-3 weeks. Labor can be brought in. Is there a fiscal issue we don’t know about? If the funding wasn’t there for this bid — shame on the IOC.
This is a total joke.
I’m an American. I lived and worked in Brazil for 6 years and have done many years of business there. It is very disheartening as time goes on to see the same repeated mistakes on so many levels in that society. If people from other countries had any idea at all of the random violence occurring all over the country on a daily basis, they would never even think about vacationing, participating or attending the Olympics and associated events at all. EVERYONE – without exception – that I know who lives in Rio for example, has been a victim of violent crime – that being kidnapping, rape, attack with a lethal weapon, etc, and several have had family members who… Read more »