MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Rio de Janeiro will host the Olympics on August 5-21, 2016.
"As for the preparation, we are meeting the deadlines, some of the sports grounds have already been used for other sports events," Pittaluga said.
Holding the games will boost the development of the city and will serve the interests of the Brazilian people, he added.
Pittaluga stressed that over a half of the total $12-billion budget for the Olympics has been drawn from private capital, adding that the money allocated by the state to the preparations is being spent very carefully.
Brazil is set to become the first South American country to host the Olympic Games.
