IOC President Thomas Bach Says Brazil Will Be Better Off Because Of Rio 2016

As Brazil "struggles to cope with its worst recession in decades," IOC President Thomas Bach said that Rio de Janeiro will "benefit from hosting the Olympic Games," according to Shravanth Vijayakumar of REUTERS. Questions "were raised over the cost of hosting the event," which is estimated to have risen by R$400M ($115M) since August as critics "argued the money could have been better spent during a time of financial crisis." At the 2016 Olympic Medals unveiling, Bach said, "If you look at the new port, if you look at the new hotels and shops which have been created and will be created by this enhancement of the tourism industry. I think you can really say there will be a much better Rio de Janeiro after the Olympic Games" (REUTERS, 6/15). IANS reported Brazil's interim government "vowed to provide financial support to ensure infrastructure projects are finished in time for this year's Olympics Games," to be staged in Rio from Aug. 5 to 21. Among the projects set for funding "is a new subway line from Ipanema to Barra da Tijuca, the neighbourhood in Rio's west where Olympic Park and the athletes' village are located." The line's completion is said to "hinge on a federal government loan amid a mounting financial crisis within Rio's state government." Acting Brazil President Michel Temer said, "We will collaborate not just with words, but also with financial (help)." Temer said that a "solution" for the metro impasse would be announced next week but he did not provide details about other projects in line for federal funds (IANS, 6/15).

2016 MEDAL DESIGNS: The BBC reported Rio 2016 organizers have "revealed the medals that will be competed for at this summer's Olympics." A total of 2,488 medals, each weighing 500g, have been produced -- with 812 Gold, 812 Silver and 864 Bronze. Organizers said that they were made with "sustainability at their heart." The Gold Medals are "free from mercury, the silver and bronze medals are made from 30% recycled materials, and half of the plastic in their ribbons is from recycled plastic bottles." In line with the ecological theme of the Games, "the podiums on which the athletes will receive the medals are made from organic materials and have been designed to be reused as furniture after the Games" (BBC, 6/15).