Zika, political unrest won't derail Olympics - organizers assure IOC

Brazilian organisers assured the International Olympics Committee (IOC) on Thursday that the Rio games would not be derailed by the Zika outbreak, a presidential impeachment or construction delays.

Executive Board wraps up day 2 of meetings with reports from Organising Committees https://t.co/SYxzH51ftq pic.twitter.com/bo4FzLgWSG

— IOC MEDIA (@iocmedia) June 2, 2016

This followed a three-day meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland, as members of the IOC executive board sought to allay political, economic and health concerns as the games approach.

Last week, a group of 150 scientists suggested the Olympics should be postponed or moved because of the outbreak of Zika virus, according to media reports. The World Health Organization however said there was ‘‘no public health justification’‘ to call off the Olympics, and the IOC insisted too that the games will go ahead.

Athletics arena in Rio on fast track to success https://t.co/rNTgIkVn6H pic.twitter.com/2qKuRipcjv

— IOC MEDIA (@iocmedia) May 17, 2016

IOC President Thomas Bach plans to visit Brazil between June 14-16 to inspect the preparations. He will meet acting President Michel Temer, who took over last month from suspended Dilma Rousseff. A final vote on Rousseff’s removal could come just three days before the opening of the games on August 5th.