Rio pledge historic Olympics but concerns remain
Olympics-Rio/IOC/Brazil/Rio de Janeiro (dpa) - Rio's Olympic organizers promised a historicGames but had to field a series of questions from concerned Olympianson areas ranging from security and transportation to pollution withjust over 48 hours left unt
"Rio is ready to deliver history," organizing committee chief CarlosNuzman told the session of the International Olympic Committee (IOC)on Wednesday.
Rio is hosting the first Games in South America August 5-21 againstthe backdrop of its biggest economic crisis since the 1930s and apolitical crisis with president Dilma Rousseff facing an impeachmenttrial at the end of the month.
Construction delays, financial constraints and environmental problemshave hampered the preparations, and various IOC members voicedconcern about traffic and transportation problems for teams as wellas long lines at security checks even before the start ofcompetition.
Local organizers pledged improvement and flexibility, and IOCpresident Thomas Bach said he remains upbeat.
"We see the reality in this country, the difficulties. We have alwaysbeen in solidarity with the organizing committee and the Brazilians.Now we have to together deliver a great Games in great unity and ingreat cooperation," Bach said.
IOC coordination committee chair Nawal el Moutawakel spoke of "ahistorical moment we will cherish for a long time" and pledged "acelebration of sports and of life in a away only Cariocas (Riolocals) can do."
