Rio Mayor Claims 2016 Olympics a Year Ahead of IOC Schedule

Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes stated his confidence in the city’s preparations for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games ahead of the latest visit of the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Coordination Commission, led Nawal El Moutawakel yesterday, June 7.

During the three-day visit, the Commission will meet members of the Organising Committee and representatives from the Federal, State and City Governments, hold workshops and visit a number of the proposed sites.

The Mayor of Rio remains highly confident that they will be happy with what they find in the city, stating: “Once again, we will show that things are going very well.

“We are about a year in advance of the schedule imposed by the IOC. Our expectation is that, even with possible problems that may arise, we are on schedule.

“We have two BRT (bus rapid transport system) and subways running, work on the Olympic Village should begin by the end of the year.”

The Commission, which also includes other high-profile IOC members Alex Gilady, Alexander Popov, Beatrice Allen, C K Wu, Gunilla Lindberg, John Coates, Sergey Bubka and Patrick Hickey, is currently visiting Rio once a year but will double its number of visits following London 2012.

Paes added: “The visits helps the Government and Organising Committee to prepare properly for 2016. We welcome them.”