Rio 2016 Troubleshooter: Water Test Events Not Stopping

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - FEBRUARY 24: The famed Christ the Redeemer statue stands atop Corcovado mountain with Guanabara Bay in the background in an aerial view on February 24, 2015 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The Art Deco statue is 38 meters tall and was inaugurated in 1931. Rio marks its 450th anniversary on March 1st and is celebrating the event with a yearlong series of events including concerts, exhibitions, historical tours, soccer matches, fireworks displays and other activities. The 'Marvelous City' was founded in 1565 by the Portuguese and was the seat of power of the Portuguese Empire in the 19th century before serving as the capital of the Brazilian Republic until 1960. The city is BrazilÕs most popular tourist destination and will host the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, the first to be held in South America, next year. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

(ATR) Gilbert Felli tells Around the Rings that water venues in Rio 2016 meet international standards and test events will continue.

"We know that the tests are made in the water and that criteria have been given [to the IOC],"Felli told ATR on the sidelines of the triathlon test event.

"They show and so far every competition has been going on given that framework, so we don’t feel any problem with that. As we have said, the needs of the athletes are important, and are priority for us."

After a report from the AP showed elevated levels of viruses and bacteria, the IOC said they will retest the waters under the new international standards. For now, the competitions will go on.

Felli is the former executive director of the IOC who stepped down from the post last year. He now focuses full time on monitoring the troubleshooting the preparations in Rio de Janeiro.

As the bulk of the test event program begins, Felli believes that the Games will come together in the final year of preparations, like every Olympic Games.

"One year from the Games, it is always tense of every aspect," Felli added.

"There are so many implications between different aspects. It is always tense, but it is nothing special here. This is why we have the test events.

"You test your ability or organize. You test your teams. You test the facilities, and we are happy with the development of the preparations of the venues."

Felli is in Rio for the one-year-to-go celebrations as well as to check in on the test event program. Rio 2016 is currently testing outdoor sports to mimic the climate conditions during the Olympics and Paralympics. Triathlon, rowing and equestrian will all have test events while Felli is in town.

"It is a heavy program, which is very difficult on the [organizing committee] teams because the teams have to prepare for the Games, and at the same time they have to work on the test events," Felli said.

"The pressure on the system is enormous, but it is the best education."

Written by Aaron Bauer in Rio de Janeiro

Homepage photo: Getty Images

20 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is AroundTheRings.com, for subscribers only.

Recents Articles

Paris 2024, the Games with 12 trillion interactions, 11,000 live hours and automatic replays

After the inauguration of an Artificial Intelligence Olympic Agenda that seeks to empower athletes, the competition and the public, the IOC's Director of Marketing and Digital Engagement, Leandro Larrosa, explains how the links between AI and networks will transform the imminent Olympic experience.

París 2024, los Juegos de las 12 billones de interacciones, 11 mil horas en vivo y repeticiones automáticas

Luego de la inauguración de una Agenda Olímpica de Inteligencia Artificial que busca empoderar a los atletas, la competencia y al público, el director de Marketing y Compromiso Digital del COI, Leandro Larrosa, expone cómo los vínculos entre la IA y las redes transformarán la inminente experiencia olímpica.

Bach: “There will be six to eight Palestinian athletes in Paris”

The top president reported that the IOC will grant invitations if no other athlete manages to qualify; the Arab nation has two guaranteed places, only one achieved since the beginning of the war.

Bach: “Habrá entre seis y ocho atletas palestinos en París”

El máximo mandatario informó que el COI concederá invitaciones si ningún otro atleta consigue clasificarse; la nación árabe tiene dos plazas aseguradas, solo una conseguida desde el inicio de la guerra.

Security in Paris 2024: the “anti-terrorist perimeter” was extended for the opening ceremony

Three months after the parade on the Seine River and hours after the arrest of a 16-year-old teenager, the Paris police established new security measures and stated: “The terrorist threat remains very high, even if there is no concrete threat.”

TOPICS