The "troubled Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games have arrived at their first major crisis," according to Baum & Cherny of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. The Australian Olympic Committee "confirmed on Sunday evening that the athletes' village has been deemed uninhabitable in the short term due to significant plumbing and electrical concerns." It is unclear if and when competitors will be able to move in, with the IOC set to undertake "stress tests" to deal with serious issues with plumbing and fire safety.
AOC Chef de Mission Kitty Chiller confirmed on Sunday that Australian athletes "would not be moving into the village, having hoped to do so on Sunday." Chiller said in a statement, "For over a week now AOC staff have been working long hours to get our section of the village ready for our athletes. Problems include blocked toilets, leaking pipes, exposed wiring, darkened stairwells where no lighting has been installed and dirty floors in need of a massive clean." Chiller added that Great Britain and New Zealand contingents "had been experiencing similar problems." The Rio organizing committee "has sent in large teams of cleaners and repair staff, but could not say when the village would be open" (SMH, 7/25).