2016 OLYMPICS: Rio tightening belt amid crisis

In years since Rio was named to host the Games, Brazil has surged into recession and political crisis

RIO DI JANEIRO:

The 2016 Olympics are 80% ready, but Brazil’s punishing economic crisis has forced organisers to dramatically tighten their belts, they said on Monday.

In the six years since Rio de Janeiro was named to host the Games, Brazil has gone from being an emerging market phenomenon to being mired in recession and political crisis.

That has put the pressure on the Rio 2016 Committee to keep a tight lid on expenses, said its chief spokesman, Mario Andrada.

He estimated the overall budget had been cut by between 5-20%.

Athletes will not have TVs in their rooms and will have to share the ones located in the common areas of the apartments in the athletes’ village. The VIP area will be more modest than at past Olympics. And, in a bid to save paper, “print less” will be the mantra of the day.

Organisers even toyed with the idea of making athletes pay for their own air conditioning, but dropped the plan after numerous complaints. 

Published in The Express Tribune, December 16^th,  2015.

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