Safety Concerns Halt Work At Olympic Venues

(ATR) The Brazilian Ministry of Labor and Employment has halted work at the Olympic Park and Olympic Village over safety concerns.

Two projects, digging for a project in the common area of the Athlete’s Village and the building of a TV tower in the Olympic Park, were halted by the ministry so they could review the safety protocols for workers on the project.

The announcement comes with less than 90 days until the Olympic Games are set to begin, and a week after a report from the Ministry of Labor and Employment showed that 11 workers have died on Olympic projects in Rio. Last month, a bike path built as an Olympic legacy project collapsed killing multiple people.

"We have no intention of hampering the event," Robson Leite, the ministry's regional superintendent, told Brazilian media. "We just want the safety of the population, the workers and all those who will visit Rio."

Work on the Athlete’s Village remains in control of Rio de Janeiro City Hall, while the TV tower construction is under Rio 2016 control. A statement provided to Around the Rings from city hall shows they are complying with the decision and working with the ministry authorities to resume work as soon as possible.

"The Geo-Rio Foundation is monitoring the execution of the common areas of the Athletes' Village, under construction by the Erwil Company," the statement read.

"Two excavation points on the ground were isolated and a meeting will decide the necessary adjustments to the progress of works. The set of soft soil stabilization works and landfill will pave the 200 thousand square meters to receive the temporary structures of the areas of support, to be assembled by the Organizing Committee."

A spokesperson from Rio 2016 told ATR they are aware of the decision were alerted to the need for a work stoppage by the ministry late last week. The spokesperson added the organizing committee met with the ministry on May 9 to discuss a new safety plan for the construction works, and they hope a decision on the matter is reached in the next few days.

Impeachment Vote Continues

The Brazilian Upper House will vote to confirm the lower house impeachment vote on May 11.

On May 9, the new lower house leader Waldir Maranhao annulled the original lower house impeachment vote. The decision caused a lot of confusion in Brazil, as both sides pondered the ramifications of the actions.

Eventually, Maranhao withdrew his decision, and the upper house vote will continue as planned. If the upper house votes to confirm the lower house decision, President Dilma Rousseff will have to step down from office for 180 days while a trial on her charges is conducted.

Written by Aaron Bauer in Rio de Janeiro

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