IOC Chief Confident Amid Concerns in Rio

(ATR) IOC president Thomas Bach wraps up his visit to Brazil after meetings with Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff and Rio 2016 officials aimed at speeding up preparations.

It was Bach’s first trip to the 2016 host city as IOC chief.

Commenting on the two-day check-up on Rio 2016 progress, IOC spokesman Mark Adams tells Around the Rings: "There is a great team spirit at Rio 2016 – and they realize that they don't have a moment to lose.

"They announce their budget today and they are focused on delivering a memorable Games that will leave a great social and infrastructure legacy that will transform the city and the country."

Bach met with Rousseff on Tuesday to seek assurances that work was being accelerated on venues and transport infrastructure.

On Wednesday, he had a breakfast meeting with the heads of Rio 2016’s marketing partners before receiving an update on the main venues for the Rio Games, including the Olympic Park, the Olympic Village, Deodoro, Marina da Gloria, Copacabana, the Rio 2016 golf venue, Sambódromo, the João Havelange Olympic Stadium, Maracaña, and Lagoa.

Following his tour of the venues, the IOC chief met with Rio governor Sergio Cabral and the city’s mayor Eduardo Paes to discuss the development of the Rio project with the local political leaders and hear about how the Games were helping Rio to fulfill its long-term development objectives for the city and region.

Bach’s visit to Rio ended with a meeting with Rio 2016’s board of directors and officials. He addressed the entire Rio 2016 staff and then took part in a question and answer session.

He was joined on the visit by IOC Coordination Commission chair Nawal El Moutawakel, Brazilian IOC member Bernard Rajzman and Rio 2016 president Carlos Nuzman.

"The Rio 2016 venues will be a magnificent backdrop for the sporting exploits of the athletes in 2016," Bach said in a statement.

"And I was also impressed to hear about how Rio 2016 is being used as a catalyst by the city and region to improve the quality of life for many local people, as they use the fixed deadline of the Games to deliver numerous infrastructure improvements that will serve the people for generations to come."

As Bach arrived back in Germany Thursday morning, Rousseff was touching down in Switzerland on her way to meet FIFA president Sepp Blatter at world football’s headquarters in Zurich.

Brazil’s World Cup preparations have also been dogged by delays over the past two years. The seventh of 12 host stadiums for the June 12-July 13 tournament opened Wednesday, leaving five venues still to be finished. Sao Paulo’s Arena Corinthians won’t open until April 15.

The Swiss IOC member will be hoping to hear some encouraging news about World Cup preparations.

Written by Mark Bisson

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