A MATTER OF TIME How ready is Rio

Posted on 05/03/2016 | About Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

When Rio de Janeiro was awarded the 2016 Summer Olympic Games they intended to double their hotel capacity in time for the opening ceremonies. If they reach that goal, it will be with the inclusion of beds with Airbnb and without some hotels, including the Trump, that now appear to have little or no chance of completing construction in time. With that possibility, officials, coaches and trainers from seven countries have made back up arrangements to stay elsewhere, if necessary.

Seven international federations made bookings with the new Trump hotel, located in the Barra de Tijuca region in which the main Olympic Park is located. None included athletes. The 13 story luxury hotel promised an infinity pool made of glass, suspended above a nightclub with capacity for 600 people. Developers have made assurances that it will be ready in time. Two Holiday Inn properties have conceded running out of time and reported that they will not be open until 2017.

The Olympic site is also behind schedule. Construction of the Velodrome indoor cycling track is delayed, as is the tennis centre. The subway system that will transfer fans from downtown Rio to a number of Olympic venues is still under construction with no solid finish date clear. The city’s new bike path which opened in January recently collapsed, killing two people.

According to Bloomberg, a recent IOC inspection delegation concluded that "thousands and thousands of little things" are left to complete.