French NOC Visits Rio, Predicts Post-World Cup Changes

(ATR) Around 60 representatives of the French National Olympic Committee, CNOSF, are in the 2016 Olympic host city this week.

Denis Masseglia, president of the CNOSF, tells Around the Rings he will lead the delegation which will make a full inspection of Rio de Janeiro. Joining Masseglia will be the leaders of all French summer Olympic federations and technical experts from the CNOSF.

Analyzing the state of affairs for Rio, Masseglia says he thinks the focus of organization for the Games will change following the World Cup, which Brazil is hosting from June 12 until July 13.

"They have to organize the World Cup," Masseglia said in an exclusive interview with Around the Rings. "I think that after the World Cup, things could be different. Brazil is busy, and I think the challenge is to succeed."

The biggest challenge for the 2016 Games, he added, was transportation. Rio is a sprawling city with competitions taking place in three clusters throughout the city. The Australian NOC announced it was housing some athletes in private housing outside the village to be closer to competition venues.

This will be Masseglia’s third visit to Rio. He characterizes the relationship between the CNOSF and Rio 2016 as very a positive one.

In addition to site visits, Masseglia said the CNOSF would begin to finalize plans for Club France, the French hospitality house. Due to the ongoing negotiations, Masseglia would not divulge concrete details of the facility other than that it will be near "the heart of the city."

"We want to organize something with very big attractiveness like with London."

France typically has one of the largest delegations at a Summer Olympics. In London, 330 French Olympians competed in 24 sports, winning 34 medals.

Written by Ed Hula III

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