MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Rio de Janeiro will host the Summer Olympic Games on August 5-21, 2016, and will become the first South American country to host the competition.
"We all know that the political and economic circumstances in Brazil are very, very difficult and the country is in deep crisis…. But the construction work is largely complete and we are confident of experiencing an outstanding Olympic Games," Bach told the German Kicker sports magazine in an interview to be fully published on Monday.
The IOC chief also recalled the importance of the Olympic games as a phenomenon, saying that sports has an immense power to unite people in countering global problems and challenges.
"The Olympics is the only event that brings together the entire world without any discrimination under a single roof, because the sport is the only area of human life where the equal rights for everyone are true to life…. you find it neither in the economy, culture nor science."
Last year, Brazil's economy, once among the largest globally, tipped into recession. Recently, ratings agencies, Fitch, Standard & Poor's and Moody's either downgraded Brazil or were skeptical about its rapid economic recovery.
Prior to 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, large protests were organized by the country's social movements opposing the tournament. The primary concern of the activists has been enormous spending on venues, including stadiums. Demonstrations were held both prior and during the event.
