On the heels of our report from February 20th indicating that the Olympic Aquatics Stadium may not be ready for the upcoming Olympic test event (Maria Lenk Open Championships) in April, Rio de Janeiro’s mayor is now saying the city’s metro-line may not be operable come August’s Opening Ceremonies.
News source O Globo obtained an email entitled “strictly confidential” from Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes addressed to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) highlighting the fact there is a “high risk” that the metro-line linking the primary Olympic Games hub with the rest of the city will not be ready in time for the Olympic Games.
Not only is the metro line meant to be a legacy project of the Games, intended to improve post-Olympics’ commutes, but the line’s extension is slated to be the mode of transportation vital to spectators, athletes, officials and organizers. The line is meant to cut down travel time between the Athletes’ Village and main Olympic Park to Copacabana and Rio Centro, whose regular route, for example, is at least 30 minutes in good conditions, but can span up to a two-hour drive in rush-hour traffic.
Within the email, Paes reportedly requests for the IOC to consider extending the Rapid Bus Transport System (BRT) as a contingency plan, should his worries come to fruition.
“In recent weeks, I’ve been trying to figure out what is really happening in the construction of Line 4 subway,” the Mayor’s message read. “Deadlines and schedules…I heard from some people that the project is a high level of risk. All I can say is that the information is not clear.”
“The Municipal Secretary [of Transport] Rafael Picciani already prepared an alternative, and I think we need to start studying it now and submit it to the assessment of the IOC,” continued the email.
What WILL be ready?
ST is right, and likely even an understatement of the severity of what is really going down in Rio.
Actually meant traveSTy, not just ST. Typo from using phone to type rather than PC.
Gina, your comment is one of the best I have ever seen on this website, and it fits the situation perfectly!
The media is doing a great job building 2016 Olympics up. Polluted water, the stadium is not ready, Zika virus bad, and the subways are not ready. Next month they will speculating “Can Phelps beat Lochte” “Can Bolt win another 100 meter dash”. It just make for good television when the athletes have to over come a lot.
I suggest bicycles . If they turn the electricity off the rails then they could ride happily in the subway to the venue. There is even time to put some planks down .
For officials I suggest a tricycle lane .
F Rio, FINA, the IOC, and those that accepted bribes to push this travesty through.