Rio Olympic Park Needs Hundreds of Repairs

(ATR) The Rio de Janeiro Olympic Park is not abandoned, but it needs serious repairs less than two years after the Olympics left Brazil.

The Olympic Legacy Governing Authority (AGLO) president Paulo Márcio Dias Mello criticized the delay by the city of Rio de Janeiro in solving problems arising from the Olympic Park venues.

Mello told local press that there are 1,508 repairs needed, including "very serious" ventilation problems in the Velodrome and Tennis Center that were identified and reported a year ago.

AGLO is the entity linked to the sports ministry responsible for managing the venues in Barra da Tijuca.

The Rio 2016 Olympic Park contains the venues of Arena Carioca 1, Arena Carioca 2, the Velodrome and the Tennis Olympic Center. AGLO has the mission to develop a model of sustainable management of these facilities with the support of sponsorship by private companies.

AGLO is scheduled to terminate operations on June 30, 2019, but the federal government is considering a transformation of the organization into the permanent project and event management authority for the Olympic venues.

It is reported that the National Economic and Social Development Bank is also considering a private company to assume the legacy management of the venues.

According to AGLO, the Olympic Park averaged 14 events per month in 2017 alone. Mello said that their biggest challenge has been informing the public that the facilities are open to the people and many events are free.

Three social projects were launched this week at the Olympic Park by AGLO, along with partnerships with different sports activities that will benefit approximately 700 youth from ages six to 21.

Representatives of AGLO are optimistic that the Rio Open tennis tournament will be relocated from the Jockey Club to the Olympic Park next year.

Mello told to press that he believes regardless of whether it gets off the ground, a federal or regulatory agency needs to be established to monitor and support the Olympic legacy.

From March 12-15, the Velodrome will host the World Paralympic Track Cycling Championships. According to AGLO, the security of the site is assured. The municipality reported that it had obtained a Temporary Operating Permit Document (DATF) and could receive the public.

"The Olympic Park is not abandoned," Mello asserted.

AGLO has outlined plans to leverage the Olympic Park space and use it as a meeting point during this summer’s FIFA World Cup that will take place in Russia.

Written by Miguel Hernandez

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