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IOC and Rio 2016 downplay Rousseff suspension influence towards Olympics

Xinhua, May 13, 2016 Adjust font size:

The International Olympic Committee and Rio 2016 Organizing Committee both said on Thursday that preparations for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, will not be affected by the Brazilian senate's vote to continue the impeachment process against President Dilma Rousseff, suspending her from office for 180 days.

With less than three months to go, Rio Olympics is facing political turbulence, health problems and the country' s economic recession. However, IOC and Rio 2016 Organizing Committee shows strong support and confidence towards the first Olympics to be held in South American.

"Preparations for the Olympic Games have now entered into a very operational phase and issues such as these have much less influence than at other stages of organizing the Olympic Games," IOC President Thomas Bach said in a statement.

"There is strong support for the Olympic Games in Brazil," Bach said. "We have seen the great progress being made in Rio de Janeiro and we remain confident about the success of the Olympic Games in August."

Carlos Arthur Nuzman, president of Rio 2016 Organizing Committee, also echoed Bach' s statement.

"We are private, not politics. The Games preparation is in a normal stage," Nuzman said at the presentation of Rio 2016 official team uniform.

"This issue does not worry. We are committed to the Games. Nothing will interfere with the organization of the Games. Our confidence is very strong," he added. Endit