OLYMPICS-BRAZIL/CANOE Construction workers busy on Olympic venue that will host canoe, BMX and other events for Rio 2016

Record ID: 332361

  • Title: OLYMPICS-BRAZIL/CANOE Construction workers busy on Olympic venue that will host canoe, BMX and other events for Rio 2016
  • Date: 12th March 2015
  • Summary: RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL (MARCH 12, 2015) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF CONSTRUCTION ON THE RADICAL PARK VARIOUS OF CONSTRUCTION WORKERS VIEW OF PARK UNDER CONSTRUCTION HEAVY MACHINERY CONSTRUCTION WORKERS AND HEAVY MACHINERY VARIOUS OF WORKERS USING MACHINERY TO FLATTEN LAND VARIOUS OF PROJECT DIRECTOR OF THE MUNICIPAL OLYMPIC COMPANY, ROBERTO AINBINDER SPEAKING ABOUT THE PARK (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) PROJECT DIRECTOR OF THE MUNICIPAL OLYMPIC COMPANY, ROBERTO AINBINDER, SAYING: "All the projects are on schedule. If you look over here, the area for the mountain biking is pretty simple, it's mostly about forming the path. The BMX course is interesting because we'll get to that closer to the time of the event because it's a dirt course so the weather ends up changing it, so we have to preserve the course and that's why we'll build it closer to the time of the event. And the slalom canoe, which is the most sophisticated (course), we started well in advance to make sure there is time for it to be ready for the test event in November of this year." VARIOUS OF THE SLALOM CANOE PARK VARIOUS OF CONSTRUCTION WORKERS ON SITE (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) PROJECT DIRECTOR OF THE MUNICIPAL OLYMPIC COMPANY, ROBERTO AINBINDER, SAYING: "People are worried about that now. With the (water) crisis, how is (the pool) going to have water? But it is pretty simple. It is a pool. You fill the lake just one time and then there is a machine house and hydraulics that does the filtration, like a more sophisticated pool. It filters the water and reuses the water forever." VARIOUS OF A MODEL OF THE SLALOM CANOE LAKE MORE OF CONSTRUCTION ON THE LAKE (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) PROJECT DIRECTOR OF THE MUNICIPAL OLYMPIC COMPANY, ROBERTO AINBINDER, SAYING: "The Radical Park, which is to be a legacy here and will remain for the residents. Just to give you an idea, it is more than 500,000 square metres (120 acres). It isn't as big as the Flamengo Park, but it is the second largest public park in the city of Rio de Janeiro. It is a major legacy that will be left in this area from the Olympics." VARIOUS OF CONSTRUCTION OF THE ARENA DA JUVENTUDE GENERAL OF AREA WHERE ARENA DA JUVENTUDE IS BEING BUILT
  • Embargoed: 27th March 2015 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Brazil
  • Country: Brazil
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA6W0CDANDS9GK9GSWOTS11HTE1
  • Story Text: With less than a year and half before the start of the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, construction crews are busy building all kinds of projects including a massive 50 hectare (120 acre) park that will host the BMX and mountain biking events. A manmade lake that will host slalom canoe is also under construction.
    In its totality. the Olympic site is known as the Deodoro Sports Complex and will include venues for equestrian events, modern pentathlon, shooting events, field hockey, rugby and basketball in addition to slalom canoe and BMX and mountain biking.
    On Thursday (March 12), the director of the Municipal Olympic Company, Roberto Ainbiner, showed Reuters an up-close look at some of the work being done in the area that will be known as Radical Park once the games are concluded. A view of the area known as X-Park where the canoeing and biking venues are being built was also offered by Ainbiner.
    "All the projects are on schedule. If you look over here, the area for the mountain biking is pretty simple, it's mostly about forming the path. The BMX course is interesting because we'll get to that closer to the time of the event because it's a dirt course so the weather ends up changing it, so we have to preserve the course and that's why we'll build it closer to the time of the event. And the slalom canoe, which is the most sophisticated (course), we started well in advance to make sure there is time for it to be ready for the test event in November of this year," Ainbiner said.
    The slalom canoe site, known as the Olympic Whitewater Stadium, is already starting to take its shape. When asked how the city plans to maintain the artificial lake and keep it filled at a time when Brazil is facing its worst drought in 80 years, Ainbiner said there's no reason to worry.
    "People are worried about that now. With the (water) crisis, how is (the pool) going to have water? But it is pretty simple. It is a pool. You fill the lake just one time and then there is a machine house and hydraulics that does the filtration, like a more sophisticated pool. It filters the water and reuses the water forever," he said.
    The Whitewater Stadium and the biking venues will be permanent fixtures in the new Radical Park; it is slated to be left behind for athletes and everyday residents to enjoy once the Olympics wrap up at the end of August 2016.
    The massive undertaking here will leave one of the largest legacies of the Games as it will give Rio de Janeiro its second largest park.
    "The Radical Park, which is to be a legacy here and will remain for the residents. Just to give you an idea, it is more than 500,000 square metres (120 acres). It isn't as big as the Flamengo Park, but it is the second largest public park in the city of Rio de Janeiro. It is a major legacy that will be left in this area from the Olympics," Ainbiner said.
    Also under construction on the grounds is the Arena da Juventude or Youth Arena, an indoor arena that will host some of the Olympic basketball matches, the fencing portion of the modern pentathlon in addition to fencing events during the Paralympic Games.
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