Rio Olympics - No Time to Waste

So Rio 2016 chiefs are listening to IOC concerns about the sluggish pace of preparations?

A press release dated 17 Dec talks of the organising committee’s "ambitious hiring goals" in the next seven months, going on to say that "a 60% headcount increase is expected until the end of July". There are jobs available in many areas, which are published on the official website (www.rio2016.com/oportunidades). Rio 2016 plans have about 4,000 employees among its staff come Games time.

Nawal El Moutawakel, the IOC's chief inspector on the Rio project, delivered the first wake-up call to the Brazilians in a speech at the IOC Session in London over the summer, warning that preparations were well off track. "Delivery deadlines are extremely tight and the overall work that has to be done is substantial," she told IOC members, adding that "very vigorous coordination" was needed to ensure Rio 2016 didn't fall any further behind schedule.

And last month the IOC used the London 2012 debrief in Rio to press home its message that there is no time to waste.

With scrutiny intensifying of preparations for the FIFA Confederations Cup in June and the World Cup a year later, the Brazilian government and Rio 2016 cannot afford to be distracted in hitting its milestones in the delivery of the Olympics.

The IOC wants Rio 2016 to step up a couple of gears. We'll find out if they've done this when the IOC coordination commission led by the Moroccan visits in a few months time.