When does it all start?
The Games technically begin on 3 August, two days early, when the first football match is played. Aside from the football, 10,500 athletes, followed by 4,400 paralympians, and a total of 480,000 tourists will be crammed into Rio de Janeiro, the first South American city to host the summer Games. The events will take place at 33 venues across the city, with the Maracanã hosting the opening ceremony on 5 August. The Paralympics run from 7 to 18 September.
What’s new for Rio?
Rugby union was introduced to the Games in Paris in 1900 and was last seen 24 years later in the same city. Back then it was in its 15-player format but this time it will feature as seven-a-side playing two halves of seven minutes. Golf was also introduced to the Games in 1900 but it only made one more appearance, in 1904 at St Louis, before being dropped. Qualification will be based on world ranking as of July next year, with 60 players in the men’s and women’s events.
Will it all be ready on time?
That is a big and, as of now, unanswerable question. A decent chunk of the venues are ready, or will be by the end of the year and a few more should be completed within the opening months of 2016. However, the athletics and equestrian arenas as well as the shooting range will not be finished until after April. Worryingly for the host country, the Olympics Tennis Centre has been deemed “high risk” by a municipal auditing court. Organisers insist it will all be ready on time.
Can I still get tickets?
CoSport is the authorised ticket agent for the UK. According to its website, there are tickets available for archery, badminton, basketball, canoe sprint, equestrian eventing, fencing, football, golf, handball, rugby, table-tennis, taekwondo, volleyball, water polo and wrestling. It also offers accommodation and ticket package deals, with prices ranging from £1,800 to £7,500. Tickets are sold on a first-come, first-served basis.
How much will the Olympics cost?
In April of this year, the organising committee announced a budget revision that saw the original estimate of £5.2bn (R$28bn) increased to R$36bn, a portion of which is provided by private investment. However, given construction is behind schedule, it would be a surprise if that figure does not increase significantly by the time the Games begin.
And the new Wenlock is ...
... Vinicius. The 2016 mascot is named after the Brazilian poet, Vinicius de Moraes, and is a mixture of the country’s animals. He was, organisers say, “born out of the explosion of joy” when Rio was announced as hosts.
Will it be ‘the best Games ever?’
It’s not looking good. With 12 months to go stories have focused on the high levels of pollution, water shortages and drought in south-eastern Brazil, the struggle to meet construction deadlines, the spike in massed robberies, and the alleged doping scandal in athletics.
