Rio de Janeiro, April 8 (DPA) The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is set to meet soon with officials of the organising committee of the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Games, to discuss the impact of the recent devastating rain on the preparations.
In a statement Wednesday, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) expressed its solidarity with the victims of mudslides and floods that have left more than 110 dead in Rio and its surroundings. The committee, however, insisted that it remains confident on Rio’s capacity to host high-quality Olympics.
IOC spokesman Andrew Mitchell said the Olympic body was to discuss the impact of the disaster once the situation within the city is back to normal.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva ruled out Tuesday that rain-related problems may jeopardize the Brazil 2014 football World Cup and the 2016 Olympics.
“It does not rain everyday. Neither are there quakes everyday in Chile and Haiti. Usually, the months of June and July (when the two major sporting events are set to take place) are calmer.
Rio is ready to host the Olympic Games and the World Cup, the best the world has ever known,” said Lula, who was in Rio when the disaster happened.
The head of the Rio 2016 organizing committee, Carlos Nuzman, said the IOC showed its “complete support” for the city and its understanding that what happened is “a meteorological event of an extraordinary nature, which can happen anywhere in the world.”
The disaster which hit Rio Monday and Tuesday did not preserve sports facilities.
Maracanazinho gym, regarded as one of only a few competition venues which did not need thorough reform ahead of the Olympics, was flooded Monday. One women’s volleyball team even had to spend the night there because they could not leave. The court reportedly suffered major damage.
Flooding also affected the changing rooms and other facilities at Maracana stadium, nicknamed the “temple of football,” leading Rio authorities to postpone by at least one day a Copa Libertadores match between Flamengo and Universidad de Chile that was scheduled for Wednesday.
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