Now less than one year out from the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, word from event organizers indicates that competitive venues’ construction is indeed ‘entering the home straight.’
Specifically, the city’s government says that the Barra Olympic Park, home to six new venues, is approaching the 82% completion mark, with the Rio Olympic Arena and Maria Lenk Aquatics Center having already been built for the 2007 Pan American Games.
The Olympic Aquatics Stadium, which will house the competitive swimming events, has an estimated completion timeline of first quarter 2016. This estimate would enable the Brazilian Swimming Federation (CBDA) to continue with the plan of holding a combination Olympic test event and Nationals meet, also known as Maria Lenk Trophy, in this new Aquatics Stadium in spring of next year.
Although 2016 dates have yet to be released, Maria Lenk typically takes place in mid-April, which would enable the Aquatics Stadium to be completely finished and able to host the dual-purpose meet, similar to what London did in its lead-up to the 2012 Olympics.
The 2016 Maria Lenk Trophy is also serving as the third and final Olympic qualifying meet for Brazilian swimmers. The first was this summer’s World Championships in Kazan, Russia, where times put up are eligible to earn an athlete a spot on the Olympic roster. The second meet will be the 2015 Brazilian Open, with the 2016 Maria Lenk meet serving as the final selection meet.