Business as usual for Team S'pore sailors despite ramp collapse

RIO DE JANEIRO - Team Singapore sailors are safe and training as usual, after the main ramp of Marina da Gloria - the sailing venue of the Rio de Janeiro Olympics - partially collapsed on Saturday (July 30).

Organisers said no one was injured in the incident that raises further questions about the quality of construction in the Olympic host city.

Philip Wilkinson, a spokesman for the Rio 2016 organising committee, placed the blame on high tides and a stormy sea. The collapsed structure, which is temporary, is the main access point for boats to reach the water.

Wilkinson also said the construction company responsible for the project has been contacted and is expected to make the repairs within four days, reported the Associated Press. Sailing competitions begin on August 8.

Training will not be affected as the boats can use the permanent ramp to the side of the damaged structure, the Rio 2016’s spokesman said.

Team Singapore Chef-de-Mission Low Teo Ping said Singapore sailors are not affected by the ramp issues.

"Our sailors and officials are safe," said Teo, who was president of Singapore Sailing from 1999 to 2010. "Training continued as usual using other alternative ramps.

"I was at the sailing venue and spoke with the World Sailing management and they are closely monitoring the situation.

"Our coaches and officials will stay vigilant and maintain safety when launching and recovering the coach boats."

International Olympic Committee spokesman Mark Adams said “it would be wrong to make a great deal” of the Marina da Gloria incident. “In the run-up to the Games, things happen” he said.

World Sailing said in a statement that it is following closely the efforts to fix the ramp. Spokesman Malcolm Page said that a coach boat pontoon was also damaged on Saturday.

In another incident caused by strong winds in Rio, water inundated TV studios on Copacabana Beach near the volleyball arena. Iron boards were used to contain the waves.

Rio’s construction standards have been under heavy criticism since April, when a new elevated bike path that was heralded as a top legacy project of the Rio Olympics collapsed, killing two people. AP