John Coates: ‘Rio the most difficult Games we’ve ever encountered’

ALMOST a week into the Games, International Olympic Committee vice president John Coates has delivered a stinging assessment.

The Women's Laser Radial races are seen through the beachside Olympic rings at the Marina da Gloria in Rio.

IT’S the city of Samba, carnivals and football fanatics.

But as Olympic visitors are starting to learn, Rio de Janeiro is also the city of crime, entrenched social divide and economic disadvantage.

The Olympics have come to South America for the first time, but instead of a joyous fiesta of sport that breaks new ground for the Olympic movement, the arrival of the world’s largest sporting extravaganza has been marred by protests, security problems and operational issues.

Seven years ago when Rio was selected the local economy was booming but since then Brazil has been plunged into one of the worst recessions in decades.

It left Rio struggling to finish venues and other facilities on time and fuelled the animosity of many in the city already angry at the money spent on hosting such an event at a time when thousands continue to live in abject poverty in its many favelas, the crime-riddled communities that dot the landscape.

And then there is the political turmoil, with corruption allegations continuing to circle President Dilma Rousseff who has been suspended and replaced by Acting President Michel Temer. Temer remains deeply unpopular with large sections of the population who continue to voice their opposition in street protests and other action.

Military forces patrol along the Mare ‘favela’ community complex after National Force soldiers protecting Rio's Olympic Games were shot this week.

Any chance Rio had of putting its troubles to one side during the two weeks of the Games were dashed almost immediately with a string of security and other issues.

Clashes marred the arrival of the Olympic torch in the city, a bus carrying media representatives was attacked, a bullet tore through press tent at the equestrian and there’s been a number of muggings involving people associated with the Games, including two Australian rowing coaches who were assaulted and robbed at the iconic Ipanema Beach.

Before the Olympics began, communications director Mario Andrada surprisingly declared that Rio would be the safest city in the world for the period it basked in the global spotlight.

He doesn’t regret those words, though they now appear to be more of an aspiration than a declaration.

“That’s our mission,” he said.

“When an athlete says he’s going to win and doesn’t win, he doesn’t regret saying that.

“We are convinced that we can guarantee the safety of athletes, journalists, fans and volunteers.

“That’s our primary responsibility.”

But it hasn’t just been security issues that have cast doubts on the wisdom of the decision to award the Games to Rio.

A string of operational bungles have also had organisers scrambling on an almost daily basis.

When competition started, many sports kicked off in largely empty stadiums as slow security checks left angry fans queued up outside a number of venues.

Food and drinks facilities were also roundly criticised while there were regular reports of transport problems, with buses carrying athletes and the media getting lost.

At the aquatics centre, the water in two pools turned a bright shade of green as chemicals used in the filtering process ran out.

Brazil's armed forces stand on duty as bomb disposal equipment is packed away following a controlled explosion in the Copacabana district of Rio.

Almost a week into the Games, International Olympic Committee vice president John Coates delivered a stinging assessment, describing the 2016 Olympics as the “most difficult” for the IOC, particularly because of the civil unrest and the economic conditions.

“It’s been very difficult, the most difficult Games we have ever encountered in terms of political and economic background,” he told the BBC Today program.

“Seven years ago when (Rio) were selected they were on the verge of being a top five GDP nation in the world. They’re 74th now and it’s been a struggle.”

No doubt coming to Brazil ticked two very big boxes for the IOC, bringing the Games to South America and awarding them to a developing nation.

But would the same decision be made again?

IOC spokesman Mark Adams has no doubt.

“I’m very confident that these will be looked back on as a landmark Games,” Adams said.

“There are difficulties, but what’s important is how those difficulties are dealt with.

“If all that happens is that the administration has problems dealing with stuff, well that’s tough, that’s our job.

“If we deliver great Games and fantastic competition, that’s also our job and I think that’s what we’re doing.”