BRAZIL: OLYMPIC GAMES: Rio's Olympic preparations at full speed as IOC comes to town

Record ID: 331176

  • Title: BRAZIL: OLYMPIC GAMES: Rio's Olympic preparations at full speed as IOC comes to town
  • Date: 19th November 2012
  • Summary: RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL (NOVEMBER 19, 2012) (REUTERS-ACCESS ALL) GENERAL VIEW OF RIO DE JANEIRO'S PORT AREA WHERE A NUMBER OF OLYMPIC RELATED VENUES WILL BE LOCATED CONSTRUCTION IN PORT AREA SIGN FOR PORT AREA HIGHWAY/CONSTRUCTION OF TUNNEL VIEW OF ENTRANCE TO TRAFFIC TUNNEL THAT IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION VIEW OF CRANE BEING USED TO BUILD TUNNEL ROAD RUNNING ALONGSIDE PORT AREA VIEW OF RENOVATION WORKS AT RIO'S LEGENDARY MARACANA STADIUM VARIOUS OF CONSTRUCTION WORKERS WORKING ON MARACANA STADIUM VARIOUS OF RIO DE JANEIRO'S SPORTS AND LEISURE SECRETARY, MARCIA LINS (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) RIO DE JANEIRO'S SPORTS AND LEISURE SECRETARY, MARCIA LINS, SAYING: "The legacy for the Rio de Janeiro communities I would say is very positive. One aspect of it is the positive transformation taking place in the city's favelas through our pacification initiative. By the time the World Cup comes to town, 40 favelas will have been pacified. Today there are already 29 pacified favelas in Rio." VIEW OF MARACANA STADIUM
  • Embargoed: 4th December 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Brazil
  • Country: Brazil
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA3VEMG1O5QBEC7PA5HE203BNG4
  • Story Text: Rio de Janeiro's city officials give the media special access to the city's future Olympic sites, as the IOC comes to town to check on progress ahead of the 2014 games.

    Preparations are in full swing in Rio de Janeiro ahead of the 2014 games and on Monday (November 19) local authorities took members of press on a day long tour of the different Olympic sites scattered across the city.
    The first stop was Rio's port area, which is undergoing a complete make-over after years of neglect. The historic area, which in colonial times was the first stop for newly arrived African slaves and a centre of trade and commerce for the Portuguese, will house a number of Olympic venues, among them the media centre and a main operations centre.
    Efforts are also being made to mitigate the region's traffic problems, with the construction of a major tunnel in the area.
    Another venue being closely watched both nationally and internationally is Rio's legendary Maracana stadium. Renovation work started here in 2010 and the stadium will also host matches for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Critics of the project say it's been a waste of taxpayer's money, going considerably over its original budget.
    The way the government has been dealing with impoverished communities residing around the world-famous arena has also been a source of contention. Critics say people are being forced out of their homes to make way for the World Cup and the Olympics, but the government insists these events will leave a positive legacy.
    "The legacy for the Rio de Janeiro communities I would say is very positive. One aspect of it is the positive transformation taking place in the city's favelas through our pacification initiative. By the time the World Cup comes to town, 40 favelas will have been pacified. Today there are already 29 pacified favelas in Rio," said Marcia Lins, Rio de Janeiro's Sports and Leisure Secretary.
    "Pacification" is a government initiative, which started back in 2008, to free Rio's favelas of the hold of criminal organizations, by providing a strong police presence and working with the local community to combat organized crime.
    Another Olympic tour is planned for Tuesday (November 20), when journalists will be allowed to visit the Olympic Village site, in Rio's west side.
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