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Olympics

Workforce, Facilities To Be Reduced For Rio Paralympics Amid Deep Budget Cuts

The Paralympics will proceed a scheduled in Rio next month, but organizers said that deep budget cuts "mean one venue will close down, facilities will be dismantled and the workforce will be reduced," according to Rob Harris of the AP. Rio has "less than three weeks to prepare for Paralympics," and organizers have "reported sales of just over 290,000 tickets for the Sept. 7-18 Paralympics." The Int'l Paralympic Committee said that it has already "sought to reduce costs over the last year and the new, deeper 'major budget cuts' will affect every team and visitors to the games." IPC President Philip Craven: "Never before in the 56-year history of the Paralympic Games have we faced circumstances like this." Harris reported the IPC has "secured an additional 150 million reals ($47M) in funding from Rio mayor Eduardo Paes and said the government will bring in up to 100 million reals ($31M) of sponsorship from state-run companies." But the workforce for the Paralympics will "still be reduced, transport services cut and media centers closed." The wheelchair fencing competition will "move to a new venue, allowing the Deodoro Olympic Park to be closed and dismantled" (AP, 8/20).

CHANGING TIDES: Craven said that the budget cuts "came in addition to ones that had previously been made together by Paralympic and Olympic officials over the last year." In N.Y., Ruiz & Longman noted Friday’s announcement "followed days of growing tension between local organizers of the Games and Paralympic officials, who had warned that if certain past-due payments were not delivered, the participation of whole nations would be jeopardized." Craven: "We want full participation here. We want all eligible countries to send their athletes to the Games. It’s what the athletes deserve, and it is what the athletes want after years of training and dedication." ROCOG Exec Dir of Communications Mario Andrada said that 12% of tickets to the Games had been sold as of last week. Officials months ago had said that roughly 25% of tickets had been sold. Andrada accounted for that change by saying that Rio's mayor had "made a commitment to buy tickets that was later rescinded" (N.Y. TIMES, 8/20).

STEP UP: British Olympic Association Vice Chair Hugh Robertson said that the IOC should "help with funding for the Rio Paralympics." Robertson: "The IOC have very full coffers after London 2012. They did much better financially than they would reasonably have expected out of London. They have capacity to help." He added Olympic sponsors also "have the capacity to help." Robertson: "The Brazilian government have a moral obligation to do everything possible" (BBC.com, 8/21).

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