As a follow-up to our report on February 2nd with FINA Executive Director Cornel Marculescu’s audio interview, all 28 summer sport International Federations, including FINA, assembled in Lausanne, Switzerland yesterday to review global concerns headed into the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
The purpose of the meeting was to engage the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in an overview session of sorts aimed at assuaging concerns about the Olympic site of Rio now less than 200 days out from the Games’ Opening Ceremonies. Thoughts from all federations as to how to increase the overall efficiency of the Games were reviewed at this gathering of IF’s, the first of its kind prior to Rio.
Matt Smith, Executive Director of the International Rowing Federation (FISA) told Inside the Games that the meeting of the minds was “really useful for us all. This meeting allowed us, FISA, to talk in person about operational plans for the Lagoa venue, including spectator seating options for the first time since information about the budget review exercise was released.”
Rio 2016 budget revisions released last month revealed that the rowing venue is slated to have 4,000 temporary grandstand seats eliminated from plans, a decision upon which Smith commented, “I’ve been around since Los Angeles in 1984 and we haven’t been in such a situation where a country that is staging the games is in such a vulnerable situation.”
Specific to talking points related to FINA, the organization told SwimSwam today that “following the meeting, we can confirm that the aquatic venue will have artificial ventilation at the pool deck to ensure that the temperature isn’t too high and that the athletes can compete in a normal environment.”
Additionally, FINA told SwimSwam, “We have an on-going collaboration with the IOC and the Rio 2016 Organising Committee to provide the best conditions for the athletes and ensure we have an outstanding competition.”
FINA also reiterated in its statement to SwimSwam that “the aquatic events at the Rio 2016 Games are fully under FINA’s control; with FINA technical Rules & Regulations and the Technical Committee supervising.”
A normal environment includes swimming for an Olympic medal at midnight? Its an open air facility with a roof and I don’t see any a/c units or venting on the roof so I don’t think they are going to have much luck controlling the temperature.