- Title: Bach defends Rio 2016 legacy, Coe call for tougher nationality rules
- Date: 4th August 2017
- Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (AUGUST 4, 2017) (REUTERS) JOINT IAAF-IOC NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS
- Embargoed: 18th August 2017 16:05
- Keywords: Sebastian Coe athletics athletes IAAF IOC world championships London UK
- Location: LONDON, ENGLAND, UK
- City: LONDON, ENGLAND, UK
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Athletics,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA0016SQSDA7
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach on Friday (August 4) blamed Brazil's economic crisis on the questionable legacy left in Rio de Janeiro by last year's Olympic Games.
Bach avoided direct criticism over the situation in Rio where many venues sit idle and already in a state of disrepair, saying the country had other priorities at the moment.
Other infrastructure projects, including a new metro line that does not extend all the way to the main Olympic Park, have had their effectiveness questioned.
Bach pointed out that the Olympic park in 2012 hosts London was closed for one year after the event and said Brazilian authorities should be given more time.
A report published by Brazil's federal agency for Olympic legacy (AGLO) in June said the cost of the Games had risen to 43.3 billion reais ($13.86 billion), around 14.5 billion reais more than originally planned.
The original budget when Brazil won the right to host the Games in 2009 was around 28.8 billion reais.
Meanwhile, IAAF President Sebastian Coe said his organisation and the IOC are working hard to clamp down on the rules relating to the transfer of national allegiance. Coe said it is too easy for athletes to switch from one country to another without always a significant reason. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2017. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: Video restrictions: parts of this video may require additional clearances. Please see ‘Business Notes’ for more information.