Riocentro Gets Olympic Upgrade

(ATR) Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Paes says the impeachment proceedings in Brasilia are not affecting his day-to-day activities.

Speaking to reporters at the inauguration of the new pavilion in the Riocentro Convention Center, Paes said he wouldn't comment on the Senate vote tonight that would remove President Dilma Rousseff from office temporarily. Paes said that the impeachment would not affect the Olympic preparations in Rio, meaning it was not his place to offer any more insight.

The inauguration of Pavilion 6 is one of the last city hall projects to be finalized, a detail he stressed in a muted ceremony. The ceremony was attended by Paes, Rio 2016 President Carlos Nuzman, and Arthur Repsold, the president ofGL Events, the operator of Riocentro. The number of journalists attending the event was smaller than usual due to the impending impeachment vote in Brasilia drawing attention away from the Olympic preparations.

"It is a symbolic moment for us despite the economic crisis the country is experiencing," Paes said to reporters about the inauguration. "We're getting very close to the Olympics, and with less than three months, we are delivering all equipment to the disposal of the Organizing Committee."

Originally built to be a temporary facility, the new permanent pavilion will host boxing during the Olympics and sitting volleyball during the Paralympics. After the Olympics the hall will serve as an amphitheater that is integrated into the whole convention center complex.

The pavilion was built with private money from GL Events in exchange for a 30-year extension on the company's concessions lease for Rio Arena in the Olympic Park and the Riocentro Convention Center.

"What we will do legacy mode is turn the hall into a permanent amphitheater of 5,500 people, with the possibility to expand to 10,000 people," Repsold said to reporters. "This complex is capable of hosting international events for 20 to 25,000 people. The events may not come right away in 2017, but will happen over the next few years because of these works."

According to Paes, all city hall projects in Deodoro have been handed over, and by May 14 only the Velodrome will remain as an ongoing construction project for a 2016 Olympic sport venue. This week the Olympic Stadium and Carioca Arena 2 are due to be inaugurated and handed over to Rio 2016.

While the velodrome construction remains ongoing, athletes remain committed to the training session that Rio 2016 will hold on June 25-27. Paes told reporters that the training session "will not be a big test," but be more than enough to ensure a perfect Olympic competition venue.

"The works are going well in the velodrome; the track is almost ready," Paes said. "I imagine that we will have pretty much finished the venue by the first half of June."

Written by Aaron Bauer in Rio de Janeiro

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