Organisers of the 2016 Rio Olympics have confirmed that construction work, already well behind schedule, could be further delayed pending a new environmental study.
Construction work on the site at Barra da Tijuca has recently been progressing well and described as ‘back on track’.
At the end of April, International Golf Federation President Peter Dawson told the media assembled for the HSBC Golf Business Forum in Abu Dhabi that he was confident the venue will be ready for the Games itself even though the delayed start and subsequent slow progress meant that the chances of a test event being held before the sport returns to the Olympics after a 116-year absence are receding.
It is understood that the golf course architect Gil Hanse will be back in Rio within the next few days. Gil Hanse has most recently been quoted as saying that the course should be fully grassed by November, and could be playable midway through 2015.
Rio 2016 spokesman Mario Andrada confirmed the inquiry and said developers had been asked to provide documentation that would allow the work to continue. They have ten days to produce the documents, according to Brazilian law.
“The State prosecutor is asking for the papers to show the work is proceeding according to the law,” Andrada said. “We believe all the rules are being followed.”
International Golf Federation www.igfgolf.org