Olympics preparations to continue despite government change

Sports Minister Leonardo Picciani and Tourism Minister Henrique Eduardo Alves said Monday (May 16) that the preparations for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games are going well and the games will be a “success” despite the changes in Brazil's political scenario.

“We are convinced that the games will be a success. There are still pending issues to be addressed, but everything is as expected,” Picciani said. He said acting President Michel Temer had a telephone talk with International Olympic Committee Chair Thomas Bach and reassured him that the games would happen as planned.

The two ministers gave a press conference after the meeting with Temer at the presidential Planalto palace. This has been the first meeting of the interim government team to discuss the preparations for Rio 2016. Besides Picciani and Alves, the meeting was attended by Raul Jungmann (Defense Minister), Eliseu Padilha (Chief of Staff), and Alexandre de Moraes (Justice and Citizenship Minister).

According to Picciani, the group heard technical explanations that the event security is “absolutely under control” and that everything has been “well planned.” Asked if the acting government fears demonstrations in support for suspended President Dilma Rousseff during the Games, Picciani and Alves showed tranquility.

Alves mentioned the anti-government demonstrations over the FIFA 2014 World Cup. “They [the demonstrations] took place and were treated respectfully and democratically, and have not impacted the World Cup. I think this is something Brazilians are well aware of.”

Translated by Mayra Borges

Relacionadas

Olympics culture program to place Brazil's diversity in limelight