As was reported earlier this week, due to term disagreements between the state government and the private company managing the intended facility, signs had been pointing to the Julio Delamare Aquatic Park no longer serving as host to the 2016 Olympic Games water polo events.
According to BBC Sport, a senior official with the state of Rio de Janeiro, Leandro Espindola, told Olympic Committee members that Rio 2016 organizers are indeed officially looking for a new location for the water polo matches, as the delays have resulted in Delamare construction as simply not being ready in time for 2016.
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.
Report published on May 20, 2015 is below:
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)