Rio De Janeiro Utilities Cut Water, Power At Showpiece Olympic Venue

Rio de Janeiro's Nilton Santos stadium -- one of the showpiece venues for next year's Olympic Games -- "is currently without running water and electricity due to unpaid bills," according to Michael Place of XINHUA. The stadium has racked up about $225,000 "in outstanding utility bills in the past two months, according to the Globoesporte news portal." Images published by the portal "show the venue in a state of neglect with the turf overgrown and discolored by a lack of water." Known locally as the Engenhao, the Nilton Santos stadium "is slated to host athletics events at the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games." The stadium "has been closed since March 2013 after it was found the roof could collapse due to structural defects" (XINHUA, 12/31).