Rio 2016 executive sport director Agberto Guimarães toldAround the Rings editor-in-chief Ed Hula that he has "no doubt" about Rio 2016's ability to deliver venues at this morning's Newsmakers Breakfast series at SportAccord 2014.
Guimarães, a two-time Olympic middle distance runner and Pan American Games double gold medalist, has served in his current position from the outset of Rio’s bid for the 2016 Games.
Despite a litany of concerns from members of the summer IFs regarding the slow pace of venue construction, Guimarães assured that Rio 2016 organizers would fulfill their commitments.
"I have no doubt that we will deliver on the promise that we have made to the IFs," Guimarães emphasized during the morning discussion at the central SportAccord café.
Guimarães said that Rio 2016 welcomes task forces which, as announced Tuesday at the ASOIF general assembly meeting, will be implemented by the IOC to accelerate all aspects of Games preparations.
"The task force is not to put pressure on us, but to help us," Guimarães said, noting that it is not the first time that the IOC has utilized task forces.
Hula asked Guimarães about Rio’s opening test event, a sailing regatta at Copacabana’s Marina da Glória scheduled for August.
"It is a large test event. We are used to hosting regattas in Rio," Guimarães said. "The number of boats we’ll have at this regatta is much larger than previous events we’ve had in Rio. We are quite confident."
When queried by Hula about the schedule of the sport program, Guimarães revealed that open water swimming will be the kick off event on August 6. He said Brazilian swimmers could fare well and get the host country off to an auspicious start at the Games.
The topic of conversation turned to the two new events added to the 28-sport program for Rio de Janeiro – rugby sevens and golf.
"The major challenge we face is with the construction of the golf course," Guimarães admitted. "Brazil doesn’t have a huge culture of constructing golf courses so this is a major project for the Games and also for the city and Brazil."
Guimarães once again assured that venue construction for the two new sports was moving forward in the right direction.
"The shaping of the land is pretty much done and grass will start to go in at the end of April or early May," Guimarães said about the Reserva Marapendi Golf Course being developed in the Barra venue cluster.
"With rugby, we don’t think we’ll have much of a challenge," the Brazilian sports director said. "It will be a temporary arena. The most difficult part is the turf, but we will have a nice field."
Hula and Guimarães shared a laugh about the new rugby sevens event, comparing it in jest to the immensely popular Brazilian institution of football.
Hula kidded that the rugby ball rolls a different way, while Guimarães said it mostly goes "backwards." However, Guimarães advised that the Brazilian ladies team is quite strong and predicted a respectable finish in 2016, adding, "Rugby will soon be a sport recognized all over the country."
Guimarães admitted that, while this year’s FIFA World Cup has the Brazilian and world audience captivated, all attention will shift to the 2016 Olympic Games upon its conclusion in July.
"It will give me time to rest a little when Brazil is playing because no one will be working," Guimarães joked about the World Cup.
"It will show us the complexities of running a major event in Rio."
Guimarães said that the some of the most visually stunning Olympic events showcasing Brazil’s beaches, ocean, and striking landscape will be rowing, road cycling, the marathon, triathlon, and sailing.
"These are the events that will really showcase the host city," he said.
Guimarães said that he has no concerns regarding ticket sales, even for non-traditional Brazilian sports like badminton, wrestling, weightlifting, and fencing.
"Brazil is a country that loves sports, and not many people here have the chance to go to the Olympics Games," Guimarães said.
Written by Brian Pinelli
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