LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) – The president is facing impeachment proceedings. The economy is in free fall. The country is reeling from a wide-ranging corruption scandal.
Such is the grim backdrop in Brazil as organizers of next year’s Olympics in Rio de Janeiro prepare to make their latest progress report to the IOC.
With eight months until the opening ceremony, the final stretch of Olympic preparations is taking place amid political and financial turmoil in Brazil.
The nation’s worst recession since the 1930s is already having an impact on the games: The organizing committee budget is being slashed and leading to cuts in services – including discussions about whether the athletes will have free air conditioning in their rooms.
Rio organizers are traveling to Lausanne for this week’s three-day meeting of the International Olympic Committee executive board, which starts Tuesday.