A Brazilian court "has blocked assets of the company that serves as the host broadcaster organization for the Olympic Games," according to the AP. The decision announced on Monday "impacts any financial resources, trucks, equipment and furniture used in Brazil by Spanish-based company Olympic Broadcasting Services, known as OBS." The ruling says the objective of Brazilian authorities is to assure "compensation for possible damages to workers hired by OBS." The company "can still appeal the decision." Investigators that moved the suit claim that OBS "has to pay damages to overworked employees of its operations at the Rio de Janeiro Olympic and Paralympic Games" (AP, 9/19). REUTERS' Stephen Eisenhammer wrote the ruling by Judge Marcia Leite Nery on Saturday "was enforced after the Paralympic Games closing ceremony on Sunday night to avoid interfering with the event's broadcast." Prosecutors said that OBS broke labor laws "by making employees work irregular hours and for more than 10 hours a day during the Aug. 5-21 Olympic Games and Paralympics on Sept. 7-18" (REUTERS, 9/20). INSIDE THE GAMES' Dan Palmer wrote as host broadcaster the company "is responsible for delivering the pictures and sound from every sports venue to viewers around the world." It "produces and transmits unbiased live radio and television coverage," the OBS claims, using a feed called the int'l signal or world feed. An OBS statement said, "Olympic Broadcasting Services confirms that the lawsuit was brought to the company’s acknowledgement by a judicial order coinciding with the conclusion of the internationally acclaimed coverage that showcased to the world the best of Rio and Brazil. The company is already taking all legal measures in order to guarantee its defense in the lawsuit" (INSIDE THE GAMES, 9/20).
