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Rio 2016 chief plays down power concerns

Xinhua, April 20, 2016 Adjust font size:

Rio 2016 chief Carlos Nuzman has played down concerns about power outages at a gymnastics test event, insisting all venues will be ready in time for the Olympics in August.

An Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) official earlier warned that power supply could be a "serious issue" during the Games.

In his address to an ASOIF assembly, Nuzman said any problems would be quickly resolved.

"Test events are there to detect problems raised by athletes and national federations," Nuzman said.

According to ASOIF official Ron Froehlich, the gymnastics event also suffered from problems with a timing system and dim lighting.

Meanwhile Nuzman reiterated his belief that Brazil's worst economic recession in decades and an impeachment process against President Dilma Rousseff would not impact the Olympics.

"Until today we have no involvement and no problems with any of the political or economical situations in the country," said Nuzman, who is president of the Rio 2016 organizing committee.

"We are not involved in this and the Games will run normally as they have until today. We don't expect any problems in delivering the Games."

"I have no doubt we will deliver an incredible Games but it is important to remember the situation is completely different today." Endit