OLYMPICS-IOC/RIO TOKYO IOC concerns about Rio pollution and Tokyo stadium

Record ID: 150555

  • Title: OLYMPICS-IOC/RIO TOKYO IOC concerns about Rio pollution and Tokyo stadium
  • Date: 8th June 2015
  • Summary: JOURNALISTS
  • Embargoed: 23rd June 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Switzerland
  • Country: Switzerland
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVAGHGGXYB7JI0AJ9OQ89KCRJJ9
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is still concerned about sea pollution in Rio de Janeiro barely one year before the city hosts the Olympic Games, President Thomas Bach said on Monday (June 8) in Lausanne.
    The Rio authorities had originally pledged to reduce pollution in the notoriously fetid Guanabara Bay by 80 percent, but officials confirmed in March that the target will not be reached.
    Instead, they are now concentrating only on parts of the bay where sailing competitions will take place, insisting that these areas will be safe.
    "This is obviously an ongoing concern for the IOC and now we are approaching major test events in August and there, you know, I think we all need to see progress in this regard, IOC chief Bach told a news conference.
    He added: "These experts from Brazil are telling us that it is still achievable to have these competitions in safe water conditions and we have been advised today by the organising committee that this advice has not changed."
    Bach also urged 2020 Olympic hosts Tokyo to settle on plans for a new national stadium as soon as possible.
    In May, Japanese Sports Minister Hakubun Shimomura said plans for a retractable roof should be dropped to save money on the stadium, which is due to be the centrepiece for the 2019 Rugby World Cup as well as the 2020 Olympic Games. Shimomura also said he wanted around 35 percent of the 80,000 seats to be temporary ones in another cost-cutting measure.
    "This is first of all an issue for the national government to deal with; it's not in the responsibility of the organising committee. But I think we were also very clear that we asked the organising committee to convey to the national government that we think this issue should be solved as soon as possible because Tokyo has so many positive news to spread that we do not want to have a continuing discussion on the stadium there somehow overshadowing this excellent progress being made in Tokyo," said Bach.
    The new national stadium will be built on the grounds of the now-demolished arena, which was constructed to host the 1964 Olympics.
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