Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes guaranteed that "the tennis and equestrian venues for this year's Rio Olympics will be ready even though last week he annulled contracts with the companies building the two arenas," according to Rodrigo Viga Gaier of REUTERS. Paes said,
"We can't be at the mercy of those who don't honor their commitments. There is no risk. Everything will be delivered on time for test events and for the Games."
The tennis center is more than 90% complete but Olympic officials "have not disclosed how much of the equestrian venue, where dressage, cross country and show jumping events will take place, is done."
The mayor "was indignant at the slow pace of construction work and after annulling the contracts he promised to go to court to ensure the two firms paid their fines."
Ibeg Engenharia e Construcoes, the firm employed to reform the equestrian center, "is being sued" for around $R10.1M ($2.43M).
The same company "is part of a consortium" that was building the tennis center, along with Tangran and Damini.
Ibeg said that "the slow pace of work on the equestrian venue was due to late payments made by the mayor's office" (REUTERS, 1/21).
