Rio Olympics Unaffected by Government Upheaval

(ATR) Rio 2016 organizers expect continuity in preparing for the Games, despite a change in government less than three months from the start of the Olympics.

On May 12, the Brazilian Upper House voted 55 to 22 to impeach President Dilma Rousseff on crimes related to fiscal manipulation ahead of the 2014 election. The vote, which required only a simple majority, removes her from office for 180 days while a trial is conducted by the Senate.

As Rousseff stepped out of office, Vice-President Michel Temer became acting President of Brazil during the suspension. The move means that Rousseff will not be in power when the 2016 Olympic Games open in Rio de Janeiro on Aug. 5.

The change in head of state will also bring a new cabinet to the country. Ricardo Leyser was removed as Sports Minister on May 11, but will continue in his role as Secretary General of the ministry, which he held while serving as acting minister. Leyser will prove to be a key figure in the ministry during the government transition due to his longstanding experience of working with both the 2007 Pan American Games and 2016 Olympic developments.

"We need to respect every process which is done in the country, and when the right moment comes we will contact the government," Carlos Nuzman, Rio 2016 President, said to reporters. "The Olympic and Paralympic games belong to the country and belong to the city of Rio de Janeiro and to all Brazilians. I’m sure we will have a spectacular Games and a huge participation of anyone involved."

Rio 2016 communications director Mario Andrada told Around the Rings that "city hall has communicated to us there will be full support from the new government."

"We understand the transition will not be a problem because a lot of people will be working even if there are changes in the government," Andrada added.

As the changes continue in Brasilia, Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Paes told reporters that he had already spoken with Michel Temer about his support for the Games and what to expect going forward. Paes said that Temer "affirmed his commitment to the Games," to him, and he expects that support to continue in the next three months.

"I always said that moment that Brazil is in right now with political and economical crisis would never bring any problems for the Games," Paes said to reporters. "It is important to understand that the Olympics are an agenda of the country not an agenda of any party."

After signing the papers authorizing Temer as the acting President, Dilma Rousseff told reporters that she will fight until the end of the impeachment process. Rousseff maintained that the process was akin to a coup, and that she would not resign amid the trial, like the two previous Presidents who were impeached.

"What hurts the most at this time is to realize that I am the victim of a legal farce and politics," Rousseff said in her address.

"To Brazilians who oppose the coup, regardless of party positions, make a call: remain mobilized, united and at peace. The struggle for democracy has no end date. I may have made mistakes but have not committed crimes."

Written by Aaron Bauer in Rio de Janeiro

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