The Olympic summer sports federations (ASOIF) on Wednesday urged the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to take action over many delays in the preparations of 2016 hosts Rio de Janeiro.
ASOIF president Francesco Ricci Bitti spoke of “the most critical situation in the preparations to the Games in the last 20 years at least” amid calls for a “Plan B” if the delays in Brazil continue.
IOC president Thomas Bach was asked to make another trip to Rio in the near future as delays in many aspects ranging from venue construction to infrastructure, transportation and water quality are plaguing the preparations.
Bach agreed at the joint meeting of the IOC executive board and the ASOIF that time is running out on Rio organizers little over two years ahead of the Games.
“I said ‘no day can be lost’ when I was in Rio in January. After the inspection of the coordination commission a few weeks ago it was said ’not a single hour can be lost.’ We share the concerns. It is time to act,” Bach said.
