A Top Rio Olympics Official Is Resigning
Maria Silvia Bastos, one of the chief organizers for the upcoming 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, has resigned amidst concerns over the city’s preparedness. Bastos will step down as president of the city’s Municipal Olympic Co. — responsible for around half of the projects needed to host — and return to the private sector. She was previously the president of Brazil’s second-largest steelmaker.
The news comes amidst worries that the city has little time to waste in order to get ready for the games, which are just over two years away. On March 21, the IOC issued a statement saying that “every second counts.” This week, organizers missed a deadline for unveiling a budget by the end of March.
In addition to sports complexes, the city is also planning on constructing some 75 hotels to account for the influx of athletes and tourists, and working to remove flotsam and pollution from its bay in order to allow sailing events.
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This article was originally published at http://www.thewire.com/global/2014/04/a-top-rio-olympics-official-is-resigning/360012/
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