The Coordination Commission (CoCom) of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) wrapped up their 10th and final visit to Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday (13 April) with a statement of confidence in the city’s preparations for the Olympic Games in August.
The commission arrived in Rio on Monday (10 April) and has visited venues across the city, meeting authorities from federal, state and city governments and discussing the status of preparations of the Games with the Rio 2016 Organising Committee. The Games begin on 5 August.
CoCom chair Nawal El Moutawakel, who won the 400m hurdles gold medal for Morocco at the Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games, said: “As we enter the final 114 days until the opening of the Olympic Games, and despite the complex political and economic context, we are confident that Brazil and the Brazilians are on track to deliver successful Olympic Games with an outstanding legacy.
“We believe that Rio 2016 is ready to rise to the challenge and deliver Olympic and Paralympic Games that will reflect Brazilians’ warmth, hospitality and passion for sport”
Nawal El Moutawakel
El Moutawakel added that there was still much hard work to be done, saying: “The last stretch is always the hardest. During the operational phase that we are entering now, there are thousands of details still to manage, and their timely resolution will make the difference between average Games and great Games.”
Christophe Dubi, IOC executive director, said that the commission had looked at “thousands of small tasks which still need to be completed, such as accommodation, temporary structures and transport operations. It is normal at this stage of the project.”
On Monday the commission participated in the inauguration of two major Olympic facilities in
Barra Olympic Park
, the
Main Press Centre and the Live Site
, which followed the unveiling of the
Olympic Aquatics Stadium
last week. The IOC said that the commission’s confidence was reinforced by strong progress on venues – the city government reported that the venues in Barra Olympic Park were now 98 per cent complete. The last two venues in the park to be completed are Carioca Arena 2 (which is 98 per cent ready) and Rio Olympic Velodrome (83%).
“They saw that nearly all the infrastructure is ready,” said Rio mayor Eduardo Paes. “We discussed the progress being made at the velodrome. At this stage, there are no major problems and we are focusing more on operational questions for the events and for the city.”
The commission also said it was pleased that popular backing for the Games remains strong, with over 70 per cent support in Rio de Janeiro. Feedback from athletes has also been positive following a series of more than 30 test-events that have taken place in Olympic venues.
Rio 2016 President Carlos Arthur Nuzman said: “During this difficult time for Brazil, we will be ready. We will not be complacent in the last mile. We know that we still have important elements to finalise before the Opening Ceremony on 5 August. We are working hard with all of our partners on each of these points and we are more confident than ever that Brazilians will deliver great Games.”
The lighting of the Olympic flame on 21 April in Ancient Olympia in Greece, followed by the start of the Olympic Torch Relay in Brazil on 3 May, will bring the message of the Games to the whole country, El Moutawakel said.
The Coordination Commission first came to Rio in 2010 shortly after the city won the race to host the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Since then the commission has accompanied at first hand the progress of preparations for the Games.
“It has been an emotional and exciting journey of almost seven years,” El Moutawakel said. “We believe that Rio 2016 will make the host nation proud.”