Jake Latham
The Rio de Janeiro’s City Government have cancelled it’s contract with Tecnosolo, the Rio-based company in charge of contruction of the permanent Olympic structure just two months out from the Games.
The problems arose after the Brazilian company Tecnosolo filed for bankruptcy protection. In a statement released by the Municiple Government it said the firm “did not have the conditions to continue being technically responsible for the construction of the velodrome.”
Progress has been halted due to the delicate process of laying the Siberian wooden boards which require the venue to be sealed to control the humidity. The local government have said it is 88% completed and will be ready for the handover to the Olympic organisers in June.
The construction has now been entrusted to Engetécnica, another Brazilian company that has been working on the project as a subcontractor since February.
An indoor cycling test event set for the end of April was cancelled in March because it was not ready but the city said the change would not impact the value or delivery of the project.
This is just another unfortunate Rio cycling catastrophy after a purpose-built cycleway collapsed into the sea in April killing two people. This particular piece of infrastructure was not set to feature in the Olympic Road Race but was elevated parallel to the road that was on the race course.
