(ATR) Summer Olympic sports leaders are demanding assurances from Rio 2016 during this week’s IOC check-up amid ongoing concerns about the pace of preparations.
ASOIF president Francesco Ricci Bitti and director Andrew Ryan are representing the 28 sports on the IOC coordination commission, which is conducting its final inspection before the Aug. 5 to 21 Games.
While venue construction is nearing completion across the Olympic project, Ryan tells Around the Rings that ASOIF wants to receive good news about the second Olympic hub at Deodoro.
"We would like to hear that venue construction completion is totally on schedule and see the operational plan for Deodoro Park complete, and that they are confident it’s something that will be delivered… and there are no issues," Ryan said.
In February, federations expressed concerns about delays at Deodoro, the cluster of venues where eight sports will be staged.
As Rio 2016 slashes costs due to Brazil’s deepening financial crisis, ATR was told that the transport system, work on spectator flows and plans for food and beverage and entertainment facilities were still not finalized.
Ryan is hoping Rio 2016 officials address these concerns head on in presentations to the IOC delegation this week.
He said finalizing plans to transport spectators to Deodoro and providing a top-notch spectator experience were crucial elements to the running of the Games.
"With 80,000 people there on any one day we need to be confident that the experience for those people is the best it could be," he said.
Ongoing delays at the velodrome remain a big headache for Rio 2016 and the UCI, cycling’s governing body. The laying of the track is not yet complete, which led to the postponement of the Olympic test event.
Ryan said ASOIF leaders would "wait for the report and see exactly what is the situation".
"We need to be reassured that the track will be laid on time," he said.
On Monday, IOC inspectors visited Deodoro and Barra to evaluate progress on the venues.
The IOC co-com officially starts Tuesday and runs through Thursday when a joint IOC and Rio 2016 press conference will be held.
Reported by Mark Bisson
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