Rio de Janeiro Has to Finish 76% of the Construction of Olympic Arenas

08/04/2014 - 08h05

Two years before the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games, construction of sports facilities has reached 24% of the total. There are some arenas ready and others at an advanced stage, but others have advanced little from the initial bureaucratic phase.

The Matriz de Responsabilidades [Responsibility Matrix] (a document that establishes the amount, deadline and those responsible for the construction of the sports facilities) and Rio Transparente (Rio City Hall's system of resource management) show that the building and reform of at least 15 arenas that will receive competitions haven't begun or at the first stage.

After being pressured by members of the IOC (International Olympic Committee), City Hall held bidding processes for construction behind schedule, such as the Deodoro Sports Complex.

The city also made up for delays in the Olympic Park, which is now on schedule. The IOC's criticism changed after Brazil's good performance in the World Cup.

BUREAUCRACY

Some projects have advanced a little from the initial paperwork with the signing of contracts, but are still at the initial stage at the construction sites. With a short deadline, some contractors have been hired without undergoing bidding processes. The construction in Deodoro still raises concern.

The bidding process in Deodoro started in April, but the contracts with the construction companies were signed two weeks ago. The City Hall's financial system doesn't show advances in the construction.

The system also shows that the construction of the Handball Olympic Center hasn't begun yet. The Empresa Olímpica Municipal [Municipal Olympic Company] says that the arena is at the foundation phase, with the placement of stakes.

After the workers' two-week strike in May, the construction of the Olympic Park advanced, reaching 40.74% on Thursday (July 31). The construction is 0.6% ahead of schedule.

Some arenas are ready, like the Barra Arena, which will host gymnastics, and Maracanã stadium, which will receive the event's opening and closing ceremonies, as well as the football final match, and the Sambódromo, which will receive the marathon and archery competitions.

Translated by THOMAS MUELLO