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IOC satisfied with Rio preparation

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It is time for Brazil now to check in with preparations for the 2016 Summer Olympics. The Games will be held in Rio de Janiero, and despite it being three years since the Olympiad will be held, things look to be moving in the right direction. That is good news, because the country's other big sporting event -- the 2014 World Cup, has been mired with infrastructure and construction delays.

It is time for Brazil now to check in with preparations for the 2016 Summer Olympics.

The mayor of Rio de Janeiro has been facing numerous questions because of the delays regarding the FIFA World Cup in a year's time. But those concerns do not translate to the 2016 Summer Games -- which according to the IOC and the city's mayor remain on schedule.

Eduardo Paes, Rio de Janeiro Mayor, said, "Everything is well within the deadline. I want to say that rapid transit line for buses is at full steam and will be completed next year. Construction for the Olympic Park and the Athletes' Village are progressing nicely. The media park has been started. A whole series of the city's initiatives are all on time."

However, construction delays, cost overruns and overburdened airports, roads and subway lines have given locals a sense that Rio, the first South American city to be awarded the Olympics, has a long way to go.

The mayor did agree, there is concern over the city's main airport. "Galeao airport is a problem. We are very happy that on the horizon, there will be upgrades, mainly from private investment for Galeao. So there is work underway there, but the most important part of the project is that we receive that investment."

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has dramatically boosted the private sector's role in big construction projects, which has become necessary as Brazil prepares to host both the Olympics and the World Cup.

And Brazil's tourism ministry expects almost 400,000 foreign tourists for the games, in addition to hundreds of thousands of Brazilians who themselves will add to the crush on airports, hotels, roads and other infrastructure.

 

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