DPA reports the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is meeting soon with Rio 2016 officials to discuss the impact on preparations for the Games following the mudslides and floods due to the recent storm in Rio and the surrounding area. But the IOC reportedly said it still remains confident in Rio’s capacity to host the 2016 Summer Olympic Games.
IOC spokesman Andrew Mitchell said the IOC will discuss the impact of the disaster once the city is back to normal.
Meanwhile 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.
He said, “it does not rain every day. Neither are there quakes every day in Chile and Haiti. Usually the months of June and July (when the two events are set to take place) are calmer”.
Lula added, “Rio is ready to host the Olympic Games and the World Cup, the best the world has ever known”.
Rio 2010 organizing committee head 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”, reports DPA.
The Maracanazinho gym, regarded as one of the few competition venues that did not need a thorough facelift for the Games, was flooded Monday. The court reportedly suffered major damage.
Flooding also affected the changing rooms and other facilities at Maracana stadium.
