The 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games Organizing Committee revealed it "will not be using the São Januário stadium" for the rugby sevens competition, according to GLOBO ESPORTE. Brasileiro club Vasco, which is the tenant of the stadium, did not send the necessary documents to authorities by the Wednesday deadline (GLOBO ESPORTE, 11/1). SKYSPORTS.com reported that the organizing committee has now stated that the return of rugby to the Olympics "could be now played at the main João Havelange Stadium, which will also host the athletics." In a statement, Rio 2016 organizers said, "The São Januário Stadium had been identified by Rio 2016 as the potential rugby sevens venue, subject to delivery criteria being met. As the documents requested were not received by the required deadline, Rio 2016 is now going to undertake a reassessment of the operational plans for the João Havelange Stadium, in conjunction with the Int'l Rugby Board and the IOC, in order to ensure that rugby sevens' Olympic Games debut is both successful and memorable" (SKYSPORTS.com, 11/2).
