Olympic Construction on Pace, Says Rio Deputy Governor

(ATR) The deputy governor of the state of Rio de Janeiro tells Around the Rings construction for the 2016 Olympics will be delivered on time, with most projects ahead of schedule.

Rio faces a massive infrastructural overhaul ahead of the Games. Luiz Fernando Pezão, the state official in charge of construction, is confident everything will be done on time.

"Absolutely," he tells ATRwhen asked if there is enough time to complete the work required for 2016.

"Some of the constructions will be ready for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, and they will be good for the Olympic Games. Some others will be open at the end of 2015 tops."

One of the many projects ahead for the state includes improvement to the quality of life for citizens in the sprawling slums, known as favelas. For decades, the communities dotted throughout Rio have been known for endemic poverty, rampant violence and a lack of virtually any social services.

Pezão says the "pacification" of the favelas is a top priority ahead of the 2014 finals and 2016 Olympics.

Former Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva pledged to eradicate the favelas by Games-time, but Pezão says that’s not what the state is working toward.

"The focus is not to get rid of the favelas.That’s not the focus, that’s not the approach," he clarifies.

"The approach is to bring dignity for those of the poor communities. Bring in sanitation, education, sports and structure that they haven’t had for a long time."

Peaceful favelas could be seen as the key legacy of the Games, he adds. Leaving a legacy is certainlythe main aspect of the government’s work.

"That’s what we are investing in and that’s what we are going to do,"Pezão tells ATR.

Estimates peg the population of favelas at around 1.5 million.

Another major project for the Olympics and World Cup is renovating Rio’s international airport.

"What we need is to change and modernize the structure, the management," says Pezão.

"President Dilma [Rousseff] has already authorized the project for concession and to open up to be operated by the private sector and it will be done."

He adds there is not an exact cost for all the work needed within Rio because the projects involve three different levels of government. There is an estimate of $20 billion, however, for the World Cup and Olympics together.

"But we still don’t have specific figures concerning specific projects,"Pezão says.

He claims there are no big challenges for the state government ahead of the Games, just making sure that all three levels of government –federal, state and city –are integrated properly and working together.

Pezão made the comments last week at IOC headquarters in Lausanne, where he briefed President Jacques Rogge on the state’s progress toward the Games before attending a United Nations conference in nearby Geneva.

Reported by Edward Hula III

20 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is AroundTheRings.com, for subscribers only.