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Rio traffic continues to be a problem during the Games.
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Transportation logistics remain a big problem for Olympic officials, corporate hospitality organizers and the thousands of reporters seven days into the Rio Games.
In some ways, it’s getting better. The only efficient way from Rio beach neighborhoods to suburban Barra Olympic Park — a combination of the BRT rapid bus system and the new Metro Line 4 — is working smoothly for ticket holders, volunteers and other official personnel. It’s been impressive to see how Rio officials enforce the restrictions on usage while still keeping up the flow.
But sponsors say they’ve simply adjusted to the fact that getting from place to place, or quickly gaining access to venues, won’t be easy. On Thursday, Brice McKeever, Visa vice president of global sponsorship marketing, said the IOC sponsor has started to communicate with guests en route to events to keep them constantly informed of what to expect so they’re not disappointed.
“The most important thing when you’re starting to see operational challenges at an Olympic Games, or any global event, is you have to manage expectations,” McKeever said. “And in some cases, I don’t want to say it, but that’s lowering expectations. So under-promise, over-deliver.”
Mitch Poll, U.S. Olympic Committee managing director of partnership marketing, said they’re sending guests early so they don’t miss anything. “We’ve started to send people up to the park earlier and say, listen, if you get through quickly, you’ll get a couple hours to enjoy the park,” Poll said, “and at worst case you’ll have managed your time appropriately.”
The Games dodged a bullet this morning, apparently. Late last night, the U.S. State Department issued a warning that a taxi strike was planned for the Barra Olympic Park area to protest Uber. But traffic was moving smoothly during the morning rush.
“We haven’t gotten any confirmation on the car strikes,” said Rio 2016 spokesman Mario Andrada. He said it wouldn’t make a huge difference either way. “We also understand there will be no significant if any disruption, because to get here by taxi is complicated, and to get out of here by taxi is a nightmare, because we designed the whole system to use subway and BRTs.”
Reporters nearly universally complain about the official media transport system. “You’re on time for a Brazilian bus driver,” one person said after I was five minutes late to a meeting. Another reporter said tempers flared when a media bus driver missed several stops after a late-night swimming event.
The daily IOC media conference started 25 minutes late today. Why? “We had a little trouble with getting one of our guests here on time,” spokesman Mark Adams said.
