"The Games Are Safe from the Crisis", Says International Olympic Committee
The IOC's (International Olympic Committee) Executive Director, Christophe Dubi, said preparations for the Rio Olympic Games are "safe" from the country's current political crisis.
On Wednesday (13), he and the President of the IOC commission leading the preparations, Nawal El Moutawakei, tried to distance themselves from the political discussion.
Folha - Has the political crisis affected the planning process of the Olympics?
Nawal El Moutawakei - The work is under way. The Games will be delivered in a fantastic way. We will hold out for Sunday's (17) results [the voting for the impeachment]. But, the IOC is a nonpolitical organization.
Is it possible to remain neutral in this context? President Rousseff says there's a coup under way. Is this a comfortable situation for the IOC?
Nawal- These Games will be one of a kind, for Rio, for the country and for South America. What is happening is part of the country's democratic process.
Dubi -It's a part of life in this country and this democracy. What we know for certain is that the Olympics event is safe from it all, and that's because there is a lot of pride, on all levels, to demonstrate what the country is capable of. The World Cup was well delivered and the Brazilians will deliver an incredible Olympics.
Olympic projects were cited in Operation Lava Jato investigations. Does the IOC fear this will impact the image of the Olympic Games?
Dubi- What they told us is that, in terms of transparency, they will show everything and prove there is nothing. We are not responsible for the contracts. But, the information we do have is that there is governance and integrity in all of the decisions.
Translated by SUGHEY RAMIREZ
| Pilar Olivares/Reuters | ||
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| Nawal El Moutawakel (2nd L), chairman of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Coordination Commission, gestures, accompanied by Rio 2016 Olympic Games Organising Committee President Carlos Arthur Nuzman (2nd R) and Rio 2016 Committee Chief Executive Officer Sidney Levy (R), after a news conference during the IOC Coordination Commission's 10th visit to Rio |