Olympic host Rio ready to samba, says Brazil envoy in Singapore

SINGAPORE — Even as sceptics continue to question its Olympics-readiness, Brazil’s party capital of Rio de Janeiro is getting ready to samba with just nine days to the opening ceremony of the 2016 Olympic Games.

While the host city continues to be plagued by reports highlighting security, safety and health concerns, Flavio Soares Damico, Ambassador of Brazil in Singapore, is confident that they will be able to pull off next month’s Olympic Games, and the Paralympic Games in September, without any major hitches.

Damico, who was speaking at a media conference held yesterday at the embassy, pointed to Brazil’s extensive track record in hosting international events as reasons for his optimism. The list of events include the 2014 Fifa World Cup, 2013 Confederations Cup, United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in 2012, and the Pan American Games in 2007.

“Brazil is not starting from scratch in welcoming big sporting events, and international events,” said Damico. “Of course, doubts have been voiced, and it’s not surprising now in the world of instant communication. I would say that some of the concerns might be well-founded, but they will be necessarily addressed. I have no doubt that the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games will be a success.”

The city of 6.45 million residents — who are called Cariocas — has been hit by a number of negative reports ahead of the August Games related to concerns over the Zika virus, athletes getting robbed at gunpoint, and pollution at the sewage-infested waters at Guanabara Bay where sailing will be held.

Just this week, the leader of the Australia Olympic delegation said its athletes would not check into the athletes’ village due to problems with gas, electricity and plumbing.

Damico stressed that the “teething issues” would be sorted out, while security will be stepped up during the Aug 5 to 21 Games.

A total of 80,000 security personnel will be deployed during the event, including 40,000 from the armed forces, military and civil police, and an additional 3,000 soldiers will be on standby.

Calling the criticism a “problem of perception rather than reality”, he added: “We have a very large contingent of security and armed forces throughout the city and I see a likelihood of anything bad taking place at zero.

“I think (concerns about Zika) have been dispelled by the World Health Organization ... based on the assessment made by the Brazil government, in the winter dry season the number of mosquitoes has declined by a lot, and the latest number of infections has decreased by 98 per cent.”

With Brazil set to become the first South American country to host the Summer Olympic Games in the Games’ 120-year history, Damico is confident that the 10,500 athletes from 206 nations, as well as some 500,000 visitors expected for the Olympics, will have an experience to remember in Rio.

While the difficult economic climate in Brazil has cast a gloom on its citizens — only 70 per cent of available tickets have been sold — Damico expects excitement, and ticket sales, to pick up when the Games kicks off.

Pointing to the success of the 2014 World Cup — which also suffered from negative publicity ahead of the quadrennial event — he said: “This is not the first time an event in Brazil has been surrounded by question marks. But you can be rest assured, the hospitality of the Brazilian people and the Cariocas will prevail and the Games will be held in an atmosphere of peace and calmness.

“We will try to bring to the Games the flair and disposition of the Brazilian people and showcase the fact that it is a prosperous, thriving and beautiful country.”