Rio De Janeiro, Dec 11 (IANS) The president of the organising committee of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, Carlos Nuzman, stated on Thursday that almost 80 percent of the construction of the venues were complete.
“The venues will be delivered without any problems. They are now almost 80 percent ready, which few cities in the world have accomplished,” stated Nuzman in an interview Brazilian news portal, Globo Esporte.
Nuzman and Rio 2016 CEO, Sidney Levy, are both in Lausanne this week to report the progress being made in Rio to the International Olympic Committee, Xinhua news agency reported.
Concerning the controversial question of pollution in Guanabara Bay, where the sailing event will take place, Nuzman told the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that the tests ordered by the World Health Organization have been “completed with respect.”
He reiterated that the bay will be in suitable conditions to receive the events, despite widespread alarm among environmental groups.
Fluminense confirm Ronaldinho’s return for Florida Cup
Ronaldinho will represent his former club Fluminense at an exhibition tournament in the US next month, the Brazilian club confirmed on Thursday.
The 35-year-old left Fluminense by mutual consent in October after failing to score or provide an assist in nine matches for the Rio de Janeiro outfit, Xinhua news agency reported.
“It wasn’t a mistake, it was an opportunity,” Fluminense president Peter Siemsen told reporters.
“We were frustrated and he was too. It was something we tried and in life that’s what you do. When there are opportunities we aren’t afraid to take them. We left on good terms.”
It is understood that Ronaldinho’s return for the Florida Cup honours a clause written into the attacker’s contract when he joined Fluminense in July.
Fluminense see his participation as a unique opportunity to promote the club’s brand.
The Brazilian side will be among eight teams to compete in the tournament along with Internacional, Atletico Mineiro, Corinthians, Schalke 04, Bayer Leverkusen, Shakhtar Donetsk and Santa Fe (Colombia).