Paes: Deodoro Olympic Park Opening "Unprecedented"

(ATR) The canoe slalom venue in Deodoro opened to the public Tuesday brings a "beach to an abandoned city" according to Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Paes.

Paes, Sport Minister George Hilton, and Rio 2016 President Carlos Nuzman officially presented the pool and neighboring leisure area for the use by the people of the western suburb.

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff was scheduled to attend the opening, but was forced to cancel due to meeting with Governor Luis Fernando Pezao over a healthcare crisis in the state of Rio de Janeiro.

For the pool to become operational, the water level had to be lowered slightly, and areas needed to be refitted with poolside equipment to cater to the swarms of people expected to use the space during the current summer season in Brazil.

Federal government money was used to prepare the park for public use, although it's up up to the city to pay for the costs of maintenance. The park will be open every week Wednesday through Sunday until March, when it will be closed to be reconfigured for the Olympics.

"Deodoro is one of the poorest areas of the city, and we are opening the park before the Olympics for the population make use of this space," Paes said.

"We're doing something here which I think is even unprecedented in Olympic history that is a pre-legacy. This is like a beach serving to an area of long-abandoned city. It's sort of a greater use for the Olympics installation."

Nuzman said to Around the Rings that the opening of the park to residents was a "very important" for the future of the Deodoro legacy. He added it allowed the Olympic Games to combine athlete and social legacies in an area of the city often neglected from change.

"We defended to have this area to be included in the bid, so that we would include all of Rio and it’s a very important moment for us," Nuzman toldATR.

"I’m very happy to open one of the most iconic venues for the Games and give the opportunity as a legacy for the people is one of the socially poor areas of the city."

Residents awaiting the pool’s opening told ATR that they were thankful for such a leisure area serving Deodoro.

"Every day!" shouted 11 year old Larissa Pinto, age 11, when asked by ATR how often she was planning to come to the pool. She could not contain her excitement to be able to dive in.

"I love it," Pinto said with a giant grin. "It is so great."

Indaiá Ferreira, a nursing technician who came with Larissa and other children from Deodoro, said they were invited by City Hall to witness the opening, and that the street children will be drawn to the opportunity to swim here.

"It is another recreation for children, for them to leave the street; they will have something to do to be distracted," Ferreira said. "It draws the street children. Now they will be able to come during summer vacation."

Paes Says City Government Free of Olympic Corruption

Speaking at the Deodoro ceremony, Paes restated his belief that Rio City Hall will not be drawn into an inquiry over possible corruption for Olympic construction projects.

Nonetheless, Paes notes that if construction companies paid bribes to receive the works, they must face trial.

"If someone received bribes, you have to hold them accountable," Paes said. "Arrest those who receive and who paid, but people have the right to a defense.

Brazilian Attorney General Rodrigo Janot says thatEduardo Cunha,Speaker of the Brazilian lower house, received bribes from construction company OAS to write legislation making it easier for the company to secure Olympic projects in Deodoro and for Bus Rapid Transit lanes in the city.

In a 190 page report given to the AP, Janot said that Cunha treated his government position "as a center for trading bribes for bills."

The accusation is the first time a corruption scandal has hit Olympic contracts. Paes had no accusations levied against him in the report.

Written by Aaron Bauer in Rio de Janeiro

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