Olympic host Rio de Janeiro "may need to open a new train line extension without the five stations planned along the route in order to finish the line in time to transport spectators to the main Olympic Park at Barra during the Games in August," according to Nicole Jeffery of THE AUSTRALIAN.
Australian Chef de Mission Kitty Chiller said that that "was one option presented to her on her final pre-Games trip to Rio last week." Chiller: "At this stage their biggest challenge is going to be transport. All the discussion is about Metro Line 4 and whether that will be finished in time." However, city administrators "were still insisting last week that the entire line will open in July." The metro extension "is regarded as the key legacy project for the city." Chiller said that "the Rio organisers were making good progress on finishing the remaining venues but the transport links generally remained their biggest challenge with 142 days to go until the opening ceremony." She said, "The golf course looks magnificent but the road leading up to it is still mud and dirt." Chiller said that "she detected a new urgency and enthusiasm for completing the Games project, and excitement about the event’s approach." Chiller: "There’s more life at the airport and you can see the look and feel of the Games" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 3/16).
