IOC VP: Brazil economic crisis will inevitably affect games

Ukrainian Sergei Bubka, left, member of the International Olympic Committee, IOC, signs a document next to IOC member Claudia Bokel, right, from Germany during the opening of an executive board meeting of the IOC at their headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015. (Laurent Gillieron/Keystone via AP) Ukrainian Sergei Bubka, left, member of the International Olympic Committee, IOC, signs a document next to IOC member Claudia Bokel, right, from Germany during the opening of an executive board meeting of the IOC at their headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015. (Laurent Gillieron/Keystone via AP)

By Associated Press December 9, 2015 1 min read

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) – A senior IOC official says the political and economic crises in Brazil will “inevitably” affect next year’s Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

With the games less than eight months away, Brazil is dealing with severe recession, impeachment proceedings against President Dilma Rousseff and a massive corruption scandal involving state-run oil company Petrobras.

Rio organizers made their latest progress report Wednesday to the IOC executive board, stressing that they are “adjusting everything” and working with sports federations and Olympic committees to ensure the games remain on track.

IOC vice president Craig Reedie says there has been a “massive improvement” in recent months in venue construction in Rio.

But he says the Brazilians “have political and economic difficulties,” adding that “inevitably they will affect the games.”