RIO 2016: Organisers of next year’s Olympics in Rio de Janeiro say they will work hard over the next 12 months to further improve the water quality at venues plagued by pollution problems.
Addressing the 128th Session of the IOC in Kuala Lumpur, they declared the sailing competition would not be moved from Guanabara Bay and promised to protect the health of the athletes and officials.
“We will withstand the pressure and ensure the bay is clean,” said President of the Organising Committee, Carlos Nuzman.
Rio 2016 pledged to do more to clean up the waste and the garbage using eco-boats and nets in the bay. They also plan to build a new pipe system to direct the sewage away from the area.
“With all the problems and all the fickleness we will deliver a spectacular Games,” Nuzman said.
The Rio Organising Committee has 44 test events coming up, 19 will take place this year, including the sailing test event in mid-August.
There will be independent testing of the water quality but organisers stress that the water in Copacabana currently complies with international standards.
“We will be transparent and test the water on a daily basis during the Games.”
The Organising Committee says the Games will be clean, fit and fun. They have sold 90% of the sponsorship and have promised a balanced budget for 2016 and no use of public funds.
“There will be no waste, no excess, and we are not going to waste any money.”
“Sixty six percent of the population is in favour of the Games given challenging political and economic times. We will not hide or run from our problems. The Organising Committee is very close and very together.”
200,000 applications have been received from people wanting to be Games’ volunteers, only 70,000 will be chosen.
The Rio Torch Relay will commence in April 2016 in Greece and involve a 100 day journey around Brazil.
Mike Tancred in Kuala Lumpur
AOC
