Australian IOC VP Coates Once Again Rips Rio 2016, Calling It 'Most Difficult' Games Ever

Australian IOC VP John Coates "once dubbed" Rio de Janeiro's Olympic preparations the "worst ever," according to STUFF. Now, Coates "has a new take, and it's one that -- once again" -- Rio 2016 organizers likely will not "appreciate." Coates: "It's been very difficult, the most difficult Games we have ever encountered in terms of political and economic background. Seven years ago when they (Rio) were selected, they were on the verge of being a top five GDP nation in the world. They're 74th now and it's been a struggle." Coates described the problems at Rio's athletes' village as "extraordinary." Earlier this month, as the Australian team "refused to move into the unfinished athletes' village," Coates said that he was "stunned by the extent of the issues with the buildings." Coates: "We have had problems before. But these were extraordinary problems" (STUFF, 8/12).