Bach: Rio can solve problems before Games

International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach said problems facing the Rio Olympics are not unique to these Games and he is confident that Rio will solve all of the problems.

Bach arrived in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday ahead of the IOC Session and the Olympic Games. He told reporters that he had made two stops, reports Xinhua.

The first was a visit to the Olympic Village to meet with athletes. The second was to tour the renovated port area with Rio 2016 president Carlos Nuzman and mayor Eduardo Paes to see where the Olympic Flame will be housed during the Games.

"In the last couple of days before the Olympic Games, there are always some challenges to be addressed. We have seen them also here. But if you see the determination of the Brazilian people, it makes everybody confident that the remaining problems will be solved in the next 24 or 48 hours," Bach told reporters at the public leisure park in the port area.

The IOC president arrived just as problems with the Olympic Village dominate the talk in Rio. Two days earlier, the Australian delegation refused to move into the Village citing an unsafe building.

Numerous NOCs have since reported issues with the cleanliness and readiness of the complex. They since have said that joint cooperation from the IOC and Rio 2016 has set things on track.

"I was speaking with athletes and team leaders at the Olympic village. They showed me their apartment. They told me how it looked yesterday and how pleased they are with the apartment 24 hours after. Any Olympic Games could have challenges. We have seen there the speed of the changes," Bach added.

For the Rio Olympics there will be two Olympic cauldrons. One will be located at the Maracana Stadium and lit during the opening ceremony.

The flame will then travel to the Porto Maravilha location "by a bit of magic" where it will light the second cauldron. The Maracana cauldron will be extinguished until it is re-lit for the closing ceremony.

Bach said the cauldron at the port area, still covered by curtain, is a beautiful cauldron with a shape that "will surprise you all."

--IANS

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