IOC: ‘Worst ever’ preparations

The International Olympic Committee has called the preparations in Rio the “worst ever” – comparing them to the last-ditch efforts of Athens in 2004. IOC vice-president, John Coates:

The IOC has formed a special taskforce to try and speed up the preparations but the situation is critical on the ground. We have become very concerned. They are not ready in many, many ways. We have to make it happen and that is the IOC’s approach. You can’t walk away from this.

Many are blaming the hosting of two major world sporting events – the World Cup and the Olympic Games – on the continued decrease in progress. Rio’s mayor, Eduardo Paes:

Don’t ever in your life do a World Cup and an Olympic Games at the same time. I am not cut out to be a masochist.