Rio-2016 Cuts Volunteer Places, Bleachers and Cars Due to the Crisis

01/20/2016 - 08h44

MARCEL MERGUIZO

PAULO ROBERTO CONDE

FROM SÃO PAULO

The organizers of Rio-2016 Olympics reduced from 70,000 to 50,000 the number of places for volunteers in the event. Volunteers are not paid, but with the measures the organization wants to cut down spending costs with transportation, uniforms, food and training.

The committee also announced a reduction in the number of vehicles that will be used from 5,000 to 4,000. In addition, the floating grandstand at Rodrigo de Freitas lagoon for the rowing events also will no longer be built. All temporary structures have been revised to reduce costs.

"Our budget is now balanced," said Mario Andrada, the committee's executive director of communications, who did not know how many millions have been saved. "It was an efficient cut," he said.

The selection process for volunteers received 242,757 registrations. Candidates went through online exercises, languages assessments and interviews. According to the committee, women are the majority in the selected total: 54%, against 46% of men - 20% of the selected are foreigners.

In December 2015, a report submitted to the IOC (International Olympic Committee) by the Organizing Committee of the 2016 Olympic Games showed that the budget for the Games exceeded 9% (R$ 666 million, US$ 164.2 million) of the amount of R$ 7.4 billion (US$ 1.8 billion) earmarked for income and expenses.

At the time, a task force was formed to review the contracts of event suppliers.

Translated by MARINA DELLA VALLE