Rio needs Olympic finalists’ work ethic to deliver Games on time
WORKERS must treat each day like they are competing in an Olympic final if Rio is to deliver the 2016 Games on time, the president of its organising committee has warned.
Delays to building and infrastructure work have created doubt as to whether the city – also set to host next summer’s football World Cup – will be ready to stage both the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Yet Carlos Nuzman has allayed such fears and remains confident of meeting required deadlines with an Olympic medal-winning effort.
“We need to have the adrenaline of the athletes to work as in a final,” he said. “To organise in seven years, you cannot have everything ready as a lot of people want in advance.
“We are confident, together with the governments that are responsible for the construction and infrastructure, that they will deliver on time.”
Delays include the £4.5m modification of Rio’s anti-doping testing lab after the World Anti-Doping Authority revoked its license to test samples at the existing facility.
“The Brazilian government is working together with Wada and has a fast track to approve this construction,” added Nuzman. “We are confident it will be on time for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.”