Rio Olympics to be marked by peace, tolerance: Brazilian president

Rio De Janeiro, April 9 (IANS) This year’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro will be marked by “peace” and “tolerance towards others”, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff said on Friday.

Rousseff made the comments during the official opening of the 15,000-seat Olympic aquatic centre, which will host swimming and water polo during the August 5-21 Games, Xinhua reported.

“We will stage this Olympics in the same way that we staged the [2014] World Cup, with peace and tranquility,” Rousseff said.

“It is very important to guarantee to all the athletes and visitors from all over the world that the Games will be, without any doubt, an event underlined by peace, unity of people and dialogue.”

Rousseff suggested the Olympics could represent that start of a recovery for Brazil’s stricken economy.

“This is a special moment. It is a symbol and an example for Brazil of what is possible when good people work together. If we are capable of hosting the Olympic Games we are also capable of helping our country to grow again,” she said.

Unlike the lead-up to the World Cup, Rio’s Olympic preparations have mostly avoided controversy about venue delays and budget overruns. With just less than four months remaining until the opening ceremony, most sporting facilities are ready.

However, infrastructure projects like a new metro line and a light rail service linking the city centre to the port are yet to be finished. Organisers have also said they will not fulfil a pledge to reduce pollution in Guanabara Bay by 80 percent.

The total cost of staging the Olympics will reach 39.1 billion reais ($11 billion), according to the latest estimate by Brazil’s Olympic Public Authority.

Further The President also added, “Today, Brazil is facing a climate of bad temper,” as quoted by Xinhua

“I feel this climate is not interesting for the country when it needs to return to political and economic stability,” Rousseff said.

The president called for “dialogue” and “consensus” to solve her country’s current political crisis, referring to the Olympics as “a symbol and an example for Brazil, which shows what people can do when they unite for the good of the Brazilian people.”

“If we are capable of organising the Olympics and the Paralympics, we are also capable of returning our country to growth,” she added.

The president is set for a difficult week ahead of an pending impeachment vote at the lower house of Brazil’s Congress slated on April 17.

If two-thirds of deputies vote for impeachment, the measure would go to the Senate for a further vote.