Rio de Janeiro Declares Financial State of Public Calamity Ahead of Olympics
The state government in Rio de Janeiro declared a "state of public calamity in financial administration" on Friday, weeks before the Summer Olympic Games begin in the city. In an official decree on Friday, officials warned that the financial situation could negatively impact the city's ability to meet all commitments associated with hosting the games, the Washington Post reported. Brazil currently faces several challenges, including the spreading Zika epidemic, an economic recession and the impeachment trial of suspended President Dilma Rousseff. The decree on Friday warned that the worsening crisis could cause a "total collapse in public security, health, education, transport and environmental management," the Post reported. Read more Brazilian Sports Minister Says Rio Is Ready for the Olympics, But Mrio Andrada, executive director of communications for Rio 2016, said the Olympics would not be impacted, according to the Post. "We knew since last year that the financial state of Rio state was critical," Andrada said. "We work with them every single day. They have fulfilled all their obligations for the Games. They created a state law for tax breaks that we were able to use.", The Olympic Games will begin on Aug. 5. The Washington Post