LEONARDO PICCIANI is Brazil's Sports Minister. He was only appointed to the position on May 12, following the removal of then-Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff. The 36-year-old took over the position less than four months before the country is scheduled to host South America's first Olympic Games this summer. Construction delays and health issues, along with political and economic unrest, are among the problems facing the 2016 Rio Olympics. With less than one month to go before the Opening Ceremony, Picciani held a conference call with journalists to discuss pressing issues. The following is an excerpt of Thursday's call.
On security ...
Leonardo Picciani: The Brazilian government has taken all the required measures and followed all the proper protocols to ensure that the Olympic Games are held in a safe and secure manner. All the security staff required has been provided, both by the armed forces and by other bodies and agencies as well. For the Games, we are deploying 100 percent of the staff of the Rio de Janeiro state police. There will be no holidays throughout the period. There will be no other leaves from the police officers or the state police to ensure that they are in full operation of force. There also will be over 9,000 men from Força Nacional, the national public defense force, which is the largest deployment of that force in a single state in the history of the force. We are convinced therefore that we will have a completely safe and secure hosting of the Games because all preparations have been made. There are over 100 countries also collaborating with security officers from their own countries to help at the integrated command control center. They will be assisting with the intelligence operation for the Games as well.
On the zika virus ...
Picciani: Let me begin by stating that the fight against the zika virus is a priority of Brazil as a country. The minister of health has been taking all measures required to fight the mosquito that is affected by the disease. We have also seen a very significant commitment to the awareness-raising campaign that we have been holding regarding the [mosquito], which is something fundamental considering that two thirds of breeding sites of the mosquito are actually located inside private homes. In fact there has been a significant decrease, a 90 percent decrease, of infection cases in the city of Rio de Janeiro. There were 7,000 cases in January this year and in May there were only 700 and this number is expected to be very close to zero come August. Twenty-four hundred new health care professionals and additional health care professionals have been hired to act in Rio de Janeiro and are already acting. These include doctors, nurses and other health care agents.
On doping prevention ...
Picciani: The Brazilian anti-doping laboratory expects to be re-accredited before the beginning of the Rio Olympic Games. Beginning July 5 until today a WADA commission is apparently inspecting the lab to re-examine accreditation. The cause of the issue that led to the suspension has been identified and fully corrected, so we do have the expectation that WADA will accredit that lab for the Olympic Games. It is certainly ready for the task at hand and it is certainly ready to work for the Games. Of course, we always need to check and double-check, and this is the main goal to make sure that athletes see that the results produced are accurate and that the laboratory will ensure clean and fair Games.
On construction of the Olympic subway line ...
Picciani: The work for the Rio subway is actually the responsibility of the city government of Rio de Janeiro. Operations have been scheduled to start on July 31 by the mayor of the city. … During the Games the subway will operate exclusively to transport ticket holders for the Olympic events, the Olympic family and those working for the Olympic Games, like volunteers. After the Games it will be opened to the public. All the work has been completed and all appropriate tests have been made.
On pollution at Guanabara Bay ...
Picciani: With regards to the competition areas that will be used for the sailing events, those have been fully treated. There are no pollution issues in those areas. As for Guanabara Bay as a whole, there has been significant evolution in the pollution efforts. In 2009, only 15 percent of the water going into Guanabara Bay was treated. That same rate is now at 55 percent. It is still below the target that has been set, which is an 80 percent treatment rate. Of course this is work that Brazil will continue to do because this is not important just for the Olympic Games but for the population and the visitors of Rio de Janeiro as well.
On former President Rousseff ...
Picciani: Let me reiterate that the Olympic Games are a matter of the entire country, and evidently President Dilma and more had a role to play, just like the governor of Rio and the mayor of Rio, which all had a role to play and all participated in this very long-standing effort. All parties who were involved, not just politicians but also the Brazilian Olympic Committee and others, participated strongly. That being said, Dilma is invited in joining the Opening Ceremony in which she will stay at the place of honor, an exclusive space at the Maracanã stadium. She continues to represent the country despite being temporarily removed from office pending trial. [Former] President Lula and all other living former presidents will also be invited to occupy places of honor at the Opening Ceremony.
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