Rio 2016 CEO in Washington, Rugby Pools Set

(ATR) Lone wolf attacks on the Olympics worry Rio 2016 chief executive Sidney Levy more than the threat of the Zika virus.

Levy made the revelation in Washington at an event for the Council of the Americas It was a rare public appearance by the Rio executive who gives few interviews. On this trip to Washington Levy also spoke to National Public Radio and the BBC.

Levy, an engineer and business executive, is credited with instilling a sense of stability to Rio 2016 staff after joining on Jan.1, 2013.

At the Council of the Americas briefing Levy spoke candidly about security challenges the 2016 Games faces being the "top of his list," of pre-Olympic fears.

"We should never forget that these days we live in a society that's very in danger," Levy added.

Rio will deploy 85,000 security personnel during the Olympics, more than double the force that protected the London 2012 Games. To meet Olympic requirements, a last minute injection of nearly $900 million from the federal government was given to the Rio state government. The money will help pay security forces to prevent the Olympics from being "a big failure,"according to acting governor Francisco Dornelles.

Levy said that if he were to compile a top 10 list of worries he has ahead of the Olympics, "Zika wouldn't be there."Levy’s comments came after world number one ranked golfer Jason Day blamed the virus as a reason for pulling out of the Rio 2016 Olympics. Day is the sixth golfer to say concern over the disease was the reason for skipping golf’s 112-year return to the Olympic Games.

"I'm not saying it's not a public health issue; it is a public health issue," Levy said. "We are going into the winter months in Rio. Right now [mosquito proliferation in Rio] is almost zero."

Click to see a transcript of the interview with Levy on National Public Radio.

Rugby Field Set for Rio

World Rugby Chairman Bernard Lapasset tellsAround the Ringsrugby sevens will write a fantastic story on and off the pitch during Rio 2016.

Lapasset helped Brazil Rugby Confederation President Sami Arap conduct the draw for the men’s and women’s Rio 2016 pools.

Lapasset said it was "no longer a dream," but finally reality to see rugby make its first appearance in the Olympics in 92 years.

"We must be successful the first time we play rugby sevens in Rio and we have to be successful on the field and off the field," Lapasset toldATRafter the draw.

"We have convinced the IOC members that the story that the players play on the field will be fantastic. Camaraderie, fair play, and living together are part of the story off the field, and that’s the story we now have to write and explain to Olympic members."

The pools were formed based on team rankings after the latest World Rugby Sevens Series. Each draw had four seeded teams, with eight undeeded, distributed in a snake-like pattern.

In the women’s tournament Pool A consists of Australia, the United States, Fiji, and Colombia, while Pool B consists of New Zealand, France, Spain, and Kenya, and Pool C consists of Canada, Great Britain, Brazil, and Japan.

For the men’s tournament Pool A consists of Fiji, the United States, Argentina, and Brazil, while Pool B consists of South Africa, Australia, France, and Spain, and Pool C consists of New Zealand, Great Britain, Kenya, and Japan.

Lapasset said Rugby will be returning to the Olympics with one of the strongest fields possible, making the event a must-see for spectators.

"We have a lot of teams on the board with traditional nations playing rugby, and we have lot of spectators in our Sevens Series," Lapasset added. "I think all fans know we will deliver the best events, and will be coming. It is a unique occasion to be part of the inaugural sevens [tournament], and I am confident the stands will be full."

Written by Aaron Bauer in Rio de Janeiro

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