Rio de Janeiro Cuts Power Supply to 2016 Olympic’s Inaugural Venue

By Staff Writer

Jan 07, 2016 07:14 AM EST

Electricity has been cut off at the track and field events venue of this year's Rio de Janeiro Olympics since last Monday. Rio's city government and soccer club Botafogo blamed each other for unpaid utility bills.

A number of concerns about the upcoming Olympic Games in Rio, have been reported. Olympic athletes are almost certain to come into contact with disease-causing viruses in the water. These viruses in some tests have been measured up to 1.7 million times the level of what may be considered hazardous on a Southern California beach.

The bills stand in total 1m Reals ($250,000) and represented two months of missed payments. Electricity has been out at the arena since last week and water for more than a month, reports The Guardian quoting Brazilian website Globo Esporte.

The Olympic Games, 2016 are already some $520 million over budget and this leads Brazil authority to adopt cut off measures. This appears to be the latest blow in the Olympic village after authorities have reportedly decided to force the athletes to pay their own air conditioning and television bills. Major power supplier's pulling back out of the event suggests that athletes may even run out of power - at least literally.

Brazil's worsening budget deficit means the government is no longer willing (or able) to foot the bill in excess of the Rio organizers' budget. Organizers are capable of spending only the estimate budget in line with earnings from sponsorships, ticket sale, and a grant from the International Olympic Committee, reports Stuff.

Longtime Olympic power provider Aggreko has pulled out of a tender to supply generators for the games in Rio de Janeiro next year. The organizers are witnessed to rush for securing an energy source for the world's largest sporting event, reports Zero Hedge quoting Reuters.

Interruptions in coverage means lost ad impressions and if advertisers and sponsors get concerned that Brazil will ultimately be unable to deliver, they may reconsider their commitment. After all, no one will be attracted to go to an opening ceremony where the only light is the Olympic torch.

The stadium is the home ground of Botafogo football, which has been reported to assume responsibility for meeting the costs of running the stadium. But this month the club returned management of the arena to Brazil's government while preparations start under way for the Olympics.

Pulling out the power supply from the Olympic Games Venue, the host city, Rio is refusing to pay the light bill for a key facility. This appears to be the latest blow in the Olympic village after authorities have reportedly decided to force the athletes to pay their own air conditioning and television bills. The Olympic Games, 2016 are already some $520 million over budget and this leads Brazil authority to adopt cut off measures.

 

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