Russian Athletics Question 'No Problem' for Olympic Village -- On the Scene

(ATR) Whether Russian athletics athletes will compete under the flag of Russia or the IOC Rio 2016 National Olympic Committee Director Mario Cilenti is ready for whatever is decided.

Cilenti tellsAround the Rings on an Olympic Village tour that the main challenge for NOC apartment allocation is the fluidity of Olympic qualification, especially regarding smaller teams. The top 50 NOCs have had the bulk of their apartments allocated, while the smaller teams who have not confirmed team sizes will remain a challenge into early July

As for the Russian athletics athletes it remains unclear if those who pass the newly decided doping standards will be competing in Rio under the Russian flag or the Olympic Flag. The International Association of Athletics Federations remains steadfast that its ban on the All Russia Athletics Federation means the athletes will have to compete in Rio as Independent Olympic Athletes, while the IOC remains open to allowing them to compete under their own flag.

"For us it doesn’t really make a difference because it is not more beds or fewer beds that we will require," Cilenti told ATR. "It is just a matter of delegation sizes, and if we have to include another team we will. This is something we are waiting for the IOC to decide."

The Olympic Village will open on July 24 to athletes from 205 NOCs and the Kuwaiti and refugee athletes who will compete under the Olympic Flag. Starting on July 5 the village will be on lockdown, meaning only those with proper accreditation can enter the village after a security check.

On July 4-5, 500 security personnel will inspect all corners of the village to ensure the security of the space. Cilenti told reporters he is confident the village will be a secure zone, despite the city of Rio seeing two sets of athletes and para-athletes robbed while training in the past month.

Cilenti told ATR that the biggest challenge the village faces remains the sheer size of the complex. The largest Olympic Village in Games history contains 31 buildings with over 3,600 apartments to accommodate up to 18,000 athletes and officials during the Olympics.

"Whenever you have [that many] people coming in there is the logistics of all that, making sure everyone is looked after," Cilenti said. "The allocation of the teams is the least of my worry right now."

Village Mayor Appointed

Two-time Olympic medalist in women’s basketball, Janeth Arcain, is the mayor of the Olympic Village.

As mayor, her ceremonial duties include maintaining a presence around the Olympic Village, participating in the flag raising ceremonies, and hosting important visitors. The 47-year old Arcain participated in the 1992, 1996, 2000, and 2004 Olympics. She won a bronze medal at the Atlanta Games in 1996 and a silver medal at the Sydney Games in 2000. That experience led Rio 2016 President Carlos Nuzman to appoint her to the job.

"[Nuzman] said to me ‘you can do it, because you’ve been in multiple games and you know everything in the village,’ so I will try to do everything I can," Arcain said to ATR. "I feel so happy because I didn’t expect this!"

Arcain rates this edition of the Olympic Village very highly, saying that it was the biggest one she’s ever experienced, and that athletes will feel at home preparing for their events here. Still, she has one important message for all the athletes traveling to Rio de Janeiro.

"Come, enjoy, do your job, and get your medal!"

Written by Aaron Bauer in Rio de Janeiro

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