(ATR) As Rio 2016 organisers slash costs amid Brazil’s economic woes, several international federations tell Around the Rings they are braced for changes but remain positive.
Concerns about the slow pace of progress at Deodoro, the second Olympic hub where eight sports will be staged were expressed at a meeting between IFs, the IOC and Rio 2016 officials in Lausanne earlier this month. Other federations are also feeling the pinch from a wave of cost-cutting across the Olympic project.
The International Rowing Federation (FISA) is one of the most affected by the Rio 2016 budget review.There has been a "big scaling down of seating capacity" at the Lagoa venue for the Games, according to ASOIF director Andrew Ryan.
FISA chief executive Matt Smith told ATR said talks with the IOC and Rio 2016, including president Carlos Arthur Nuzman and sports director Agberto Guimarães, focused on operational plans for the Lagoa venue including spectator seating options.
"It allowed us to offer our full support to the Rio 2016 team based on our vast experience in staging eight world-class rowing events each year," he said, noting that the FISA Events Team had been together for 20 years, Smith since the Los Angeles 1984 Games.
"We have a ton of ideas and examples of ways to save money and be more efficient with budgets. And it was agreed that Rio will now use this information to study all possible options for spectator seating at this venue based on this new information."
Despite the challenges for rowing, Smith was quick emphasize that he was looking forward to a fantastic Games for his sport.
"The great team from Rio of Carlos, Agberto, Rodrigo and all their colleagues are doing their very best to lead us to 6 August but against a bit of a head wind," he said. "We really appreciate all that they are doing for these Games and it is not all straight forward."
As part of its cost reduction exercise, Rio 2016 officials presented to leaders of the 28 summer sports "all the ideas they have come up with to be more efficient".
These include open space office areas, shared meeting areas, shared dining areas and more cost-efficient transport solutions.
"It was the first time that the IOC has gathered all the IFs in such a way before and it was really useful for us all," he added. "We are all struggling with reduced event budgets across the board and this is absolutely another example that we have to be very efficient and make the Games financially viable for the future."
Smith said his team was "totally committed" to help Rio 2016 where necessary. "Remember, for once rowing is right in the middle of the city in a dream location, so we are really, really looking forward to these Games."
World Rugby CEO Brett Gosper said discussions with the IOC and Rio 2016 were constructive. The federation had a site visit two weeks ago "where we got updates on positive progress for areas relevant to rugby and Deodoro".
Across the Olympics, he said there were no startling revelations about cutbacks. Gosper said there were some timing challenges to sort on one or two sports "but rugby is not experiencing any change to initial agreed deliverables.Positive about outcomes".
As for fencing, which is to be staged at the Carioca Arena 3 at Barra Olympic Park, the federation indicated to ATR that it was not worried about the impact of budget cuts.
A spokesman for the International Fencing Federation said the goal of the meeting "was to ensure all the key players were aware of the budget optimisation measures being taken, and understood the implications moving forward."
"There are still some minor points to settle but we are extremely confident Rio 2016 will be a success -- and that fencing will play a key role in that success," he added.
Further face to face meetings between the federations, IOC and Rio 2016 may take place in the coming months. Progress updates from Rio 2016 leaders will certainly come at the SportAccord Convention in Lausanne in April.
Reported by Mark Bisson
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