18 May 2016•Update: 28 July 2016
By Maria Paz Salas
SANTIAGO, Chile
Brazil’s interim president, Michel Temer, has guaranteed that the Olympic Games will start in less than three months at the famous Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro.
To ensure the games begin on time, Temer spoke via telephone Tuesday with the head of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach. The committee has closely followed political turmoil in the country.
“It was a very positive conversation in which President Michel Temer reaffirmed his commitments assumed by the government about the Olympic Games, including security,” according to Sports Minister Leonardo Picciani, who said 90 percent of the work for the games are completed.
Security is a big concern. Rio has one of the highest crime rates in Brazil and authorities fear violence could begin in the favelas -- the poorest villages in the country.
The head of tourism said that if demonstrations erupt they will not affect the games just as protests during the 2014 World Cup did not disrupt that event.
During the Olympics, the government will deploy 38,000 troops to ensure security that will support 47,000 police and civil defense personnel in Rio.
Temer assumed the presidency after Dilma Rousseff was removed from power, and expressed his intention to give priority to the Aug. 5 Opening Ceremonies.
Rousseff is accused of violating fiscal rules to mask budget issues in the lead up to the 2014 presidential elections and is facing a political trial that will keep her out of office up to 180 days.
