Australia still hoping to move into Olympic Village despite concerns
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Australia’s national team contingent has serious concerns about the condition of the Rio Olympic Village, but hopes to move into their assigned building on Wednesday, chef de mission Kitty Chiller announced Sunday.
“Every village has teething problems,” Chiller said. “I have made the call from a duty of care perspective.”
In an earlier statement, Chiller cited numerous safety issues keeping the Australian athletes in local hotels for the time being.
“For over a week now AOC staff have been working long hours to get our section of the Village ready for our athletes,” Chiller wrote. “Problems include blocked toilets, leaking pipes, exposed wiring, darkened stairwells where no lighting has been installed and dirty floors in need of a massive clean. In operations areas water has come through the ceiling resulting in large puddles on the floor around cabling and wiring.”
Australia’s building failed a stress test on Saturday that has led to alternative lodging arrangements. Athletes were scheduled to move in July 21.
Rio mayor Eduardo Paes responded on Sunday with a comment involving kangaroos. The exact context of his remark is unclear.
Chiller wrote that New Zealand and Great Britain are among the countries experiencing similar issues in their assigned village buildings ahead of the Rio Olympics, which start August 5.
