The Olympics looms closer but is Brazil ready? A closer look at the five major issues of concern facing host city Rio de Janeiro.
Will the Yellow Line be ready – and safe?
The new Metro line linking Barra da Tijuca and the Olympic Village with the tourist-heavy Zona Sul was supposed to be ready months ago. After several delays, officials say it will now open on August 1, just four days before the start of the Games. Some residents continue to doubt whether it will be ready, while others question the speed with which the final hurdles have been overcome. Without it, fans and athletes will face several hours of daily nose-to-tail traffic.
Which world leaders will show their faces?
It was initially predicted that the Opening Ceremony of the first Olympic Games in South America would be attended by more than 100 world leaders but such a claim has not been repeated, especially of late. Local websites claim that, due to the messy political situation in the country and rising fears surrounding health and safety, only 45 leaders will attend the August 5 event at the Maracanã. The only confirmed attendee so far is UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon.
Will there be light?
Although the physical structures of the venues have been completed for some time, the infrastructure of some are still being installed. The electrical energy of the Olympic Park is still not complete and could create supply risks for other venues, as well as athletes’ accommodation in the Olympic Village. Test events experienced power problems earlier this year when a lack of light at the Maria Lenk Aquatics Centre caused scoring screens to switch off during swimming and diving tests.
Could WhatsApp cause chaos?
A Brazilian judge last week ordered local telephone companies to temporarily block access to WhatsApp amid an ongoing battle with the popular messaging service regarding its failure to cooperate in a drug trafficking investigation. It was the third time the service has been blocked in eight months and, with more than 10,000 athletes and 500,000 tourists expected to arrive in Brazil next week, any further ban could cause mayhem for both users and the Facebook-owned company.
Will there be a late ticket rush?
A Rio 2016 official confirmed last week that 1.7 million tickets remained unsold for the Olympics but added he was confident a last-minute rush would ensure a sell-out. He refused, however, to address claims 40,000 tickets have been returned due to safety fears in the city. With Brazilians having little pedigree or historical interest in sports such as fencing, skeet shooting or handball, camera crews may have to get creative with their angles or risk showing several rows of empty seats.
