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Rio will be safe for Olympic sailors, says IOC chief

Xinhua, April 21, 2016 Adjust font size:

Conditions at Rio de Janeiro's Guanabara Bay will be safe for Olympic sailing events in August, the president of the International Olympic Committee said on Wednesday.

Rio's mayor Eduardo Paes has admitted the city will not be able to meet a 2009 pledge to reduce pollution in the bay by 80% in time for the Olympics.

But the government says large nets that block the flow of waste into competition areas and ecoboats that scoop up trash from the water's surface will ensure the bay is clean.

"We are very confident that the competition area for the athletes will offer safe and fair conditions," IOC president Thomas Bach told reporters.

"The city, the state and the organizing committee are undertaking many efforts and what we see now is that 60 percent of the surface is clean. Without the Games it would be zero."

"The last stretch is always the most difficult one and also there are challenges, but ... we're very confident (they) will be excellent Games," Bach said. Endit