Rio Olympics Stadium Closed Indefinitely
A stadium due to host athletics at the 2016 Olympics in Brazil has been closed indefinitely because of structural problems with its roof, while the authorities have also acknowledged delays in work on the Maracana and a funding problem at another stadium, which is set to host the opening match at the World Cup.
The Joao Havelange stadium in Rio de Janeiro, which was built only six years ago,
was also being used as the main football venue in Rio but has now been closed.
Brazil is prepares for two global sporting events in the coming years, with the FIFA World Cup in 2014 and the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Rio two years later.
Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes told a news conference: ‘I asked if this represented a risk for spectators and they told me it did, depending on the wind speed and temperature.’
‘On that basis, I immediately decided to close the stadium until we had more details.’
He said the situation was ‘simply not acceptable’ for a stadium which opened such a short time ago, and warned that those responsible would be held to account.
The stadium opened late and over budget in 2007 and has since been leased to local football club Botafogo.
