President Rousseff says she'll get more involved in Olympics
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff says she will get more involved in preparations of the Rio's 2016 Olympics with the games set to open in less than 15 months.
Rousseff met Tuesday in Rio with Olympic organizers, Rio de Janeiro state governor Luiz Fernando Pezao and Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes.
Rousseff said she wants to ''fine tune'' preparations, but did not speak publically about specific concerns.
''We have to show off the country through the organization of the (Olympic) Games, through the security,'' she said. ''We have to guarantee the beauty of the Olympics Park with construction that is perfectly on time.''
Rio faces severe water pollution in venues for sailing, rowing and canoeing. The problems are decades old, and organizers must find stopgap measures in a few months.
Sailing's world governing body has threatened to pull its races out of trash-filled Guanabara Bay, fearful of floating debris interfering with the races, and sailors getting ill from the polluted water.
Organizers also acknowledge deadlines are tight for many games venues, but they say delays are minor.
Deadly violence is also a concern with routine shootouts in poor favelas (slums) costing the lives of police, drug traffickers and bystanders.
Rousseff also visited a subway line extension that will link central Rio to the western suburb of Barra de Tijuca, where most of the Olympic events will be held. Organizers expect it to be operating just weeks before the games open.
Rousseff said she planned to return in the next few months to meet with organizers, and state and city officials.
Rousseff was asked if a scandal involving $2.1 billion in kickbacks at state-run oil company Petrobras - comprising payments to politicians and construction companies - could eventually affect construction companies building Olympic venues.
''I don't see any impact that (it) could have on Olympic projects,'' Rousseff said. ''I don't have anything showing that it could have an impact.''
