Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Sunday, December 15, 2024 80° Today's Paper


Top News

Rio organizers apologize for delays entering Olympic venues

ASSOCIATED PRESS

South Korean fans cheer during the women’s preliminary handball match between Russia and South Korea at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Aug. 6, 2016.

RIO DE JANEIRO >> Olympic organizers apologized to the spectators who endured delays accessing venues on the first full day of competition.

Organizing committee spokesman Mario Andrada said Saturday measures were being taken to prevent a repeat of the long lines to enter parts of the Olympic Park by enhancing the entry systems.

“We apologize to everyone who is standing in the sun in lines outside the venues,” Andrada said.

Spectators have to go through airport-style security checks before entering Olympic venues.

“This morning is the first morning of the Olympic Park with a full crowd and some of the procedures and some of the systems did not talk to each other,” Andrada said. “We brought people in to help the coordination … we owe the public an explanation.”

Addressing questions about official buses getting lost, Andrada said at a briefing that organizers would check if drivers had sufficient training.

“We don’t have major structural problems with transport,” Andrada said.

Leave a Reply