IPC to hold crisis talks to ensure Paralympics go ahead

[Rob2012]

Genuinely think this is worth of its own thread as its gone under the radar a bit, but could be very serious....
 

Quote

 

IPC to hold crisis talks with Rio Mayor to try to ensure Paralympics go ahead

A crisis meeting is to be held here later today between the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Paes as doubts remain over the event due to the city's dire economic situation.

insidethegames revealed yesterday that organisers were already two weeks late in paying travel grants to participating National Paralympic Committees.

If unresolved, this is likely to mean around 50 to 60 nations are unable to compete.

Rio 2016 are facing an "ever-expanding hole in their budget", with the IPC having already accounted for several shortfalls before Brazilian officials told them of futher cuts.

insidethegames understands that Rio 2016 funds designated for the Paralympics are being diverted towards resolving issues with the Olympic Games.

This has included construction problems in the Olympic Village and treating the green water at the Maria Lenk Aquatics Centre.

The meeting here is due to start at 8am between Paes and the IPC President and chief executive, Sir Philip Craven and Xavier Gonzalez.

Finding alternative financial solutions is expected to dominate the agenda.

Further meetings are expected to be held with Rio 2016 and the International Olympic Committee over the next two days.

It is hoped that by Wednesday (August 17) they will have a full picture of the situation.

At present, it is not thought there have been any discussions about cancelling the event altogether or of removing any sporting events from the programme.

It is likely that severe cuts will be made, however, to areas including the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, volunteer and commerical programmes and other "luxuries" like venue media centres.

Rio 2016 are thought to be holding talks with sponsors such as Samsung and Coca-Cola to provide more support.

The IPC, meanwhile, are more hopeful they will get backing from different levels of the Brazilian Government.

But this could depend on the outcome of a legal case after a Brazilian judge ruled last week that Rio 2016 can receive no more public money until they publish all of their accounts.

An additional BRL270 million (£65 million/$84 million/€75 million) had been earmarked for extra-spending for both the Olympic and Paralympic Games from City and Federal Governments.

Rio 2016 confirmed today that they are taking legal action against this measure.

Fears are growing that Rio 2016 will reverse the progress made at recent successful Paralympic Games at Beijing 2008 and London 2012.

Other areas for concern include the Athletes' Village, where few plans are thought to be in place to make the facility suitable for the huge influx of people with disabilities due to arrive.

 

More @ http://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1040640/ipc-to-hold-crisis-talks-with-rio-mayor-to-try-to-ensure-paralympics-go-ahead#.V7G7Gojh5xS.twitter

[Ikarus360]

Another very embarassing thing to add to the already tall pile of embarassments these Olympics have brought. Absolutely sad they had to divert funds for the Paralympics in order to contain a major disaster for the Olympics from happening. 

I hope you guys enjoyed it because it's going to be aeons before Latin America hosts the games again after these shambles. 

[zekekelso]

Shambles? 

[FYI]

Must be related to the other CCC ('counter-coverage' cohort) that's roaming around these boards. But don't think that anyone was expecting the Olympics to return to Latin America anytime soon anyway. Even the United States has been waiting quite a while since the last time we hosted the Summer Olympics.

[Dylanlip]

The IOC/IPC divide will only get worse with both this revelation, and what's in store for this years Paras. You thought Olympic attendance was bad? Get ready for 90%+ empty arenas and venues next month, when kids go back to school, Olympic vacations end, and interest dies down. Now while that IS sort of the norm for many past Paralympics, it seems the progress from London will be all for naught. Hoo boy, those Paralympic ceremonies are gonna be as bare as can be.

But that's not the worry, the worry will be accomadations and hospitality. I'm not really sure what the organizers can do if the Village is not accessible on arrival. Apolgies won't cut it, they'll need thousands of accessible hotel rooms I guess on emergency use, that is, if they have them.

I don't know what will affect their relationship (IPC/IOC) more, the blanket Russia ban or what's happening here.

[yoshi]

Time for the Paras to declare independence & start electing their own hosts? What does the relationship between the IOC & IPC entail, other than sharing a host city?

[JMarkSnow2012]

4 minutes ago, yoshi said:

Time for the Paras to declare independence & start electing their own hosts? What does the relationship between the IOC & IPC entail, other than sharing a host city?

Sharing a host city means a heck of a lot- availability of venues, availability of the athletes' village (which ought to have had facilities for Paralympians built in from the start), a pumped-up host nation eager for some more sport after their Olympic successes ....

Oh, wait.

[CB2328]

The Paras should be held first, then the Olympics.  This would give the host city ample time to work through all of the logistical nightmares and correct the problems in preparation for the big show.  

 

 

[luizfernandobr45]

I think the solution is joining the Olympics and Paralympics as one event. Maybe a 1 month event like the FIFA World Cup, but two different events is costs to much. Instead of 4 ceremonies, 2, for example. Preparing food for 16,000 athletes is not much more expensive than preparing food for 10,000. The venues have already to be build thinking in both events. I don't see many obstacles.

[Dylanlip]

Um, no dude. No. Cities are already becoming overwhelmed with the current size of the games. It's not just "Preparing food" for an extra 5-6000. We're talking about basically building an extra Olympic village. What of transporting those extra athletes, not to mention all the extra families and coaches accomadations. The athlete parade would be 4+ hours alone, and that's if you can manage to build a stadium big enough to hold ALL athletes. Logistical issues would only increase and magnify, and burnout would eventually settle in with the public.

The Paralympics really do need to start bidding on their own. Get cities interested and excited specifically in Paralympic sport, instead of just appeassing them to win what they really want (Olympics). London (& we'll see with Tokyo) has been the only truly successful games for both sides.

[luizfernandobr45]

Brasil has been good in paralympic sports. I believe that when the games gets started people will look for tickets. It is happening know with thw olympics. I know a lot of people who says that never even thought in going to the olympics and now they are trying to go. We can't say that Rio Paralympics won't work. A month ago the press was saying the same thing about the olympics, and look now. Of course there are a few problems, but it's not the tragedy some people were expecting. It's not the best olympics, but itsn't the worse. 

[Dylanlip]

I'm talking about the Paralympics right now, which is a different beast from the Olympics. Olympic attendance has been terrible except for the very top marquee events, and looking at the trend followed by every single Paralympics save for London, attendance and interest WILL be worse. It's a matter of public attention burning out. People go back to work, kids go back to school. Folks on vacation return home. With the native population in Brazil, there's a stark difference in ticket sales. That's a given, but that's not the issue being discussed right now.

The prioritization shown by the organizers is pretty disgusting, and could very well be the last straw for the IPC if it really does turn out that so many countries are out, because the Paralympics at that point would be ruined. At the same time, if the village isn't handicap/disability accessible for the para-athletes, then what? Does the government step in to add temporary housing and accomadations that then are accessible? How would this be handled? This ain't "a few problems" now, this ain't nitpicking. Typical non-disabled athletes could perhaps deal with the horde of village issues, but at a certain point the accomadations become unusable for the handicapped. And again, that's if the athletes even arrive for a legitimate Paralympics.

[baron-pierreIV]

That's ANOTHER reason why I've always thought it was dumb to put the Paralympics AFTER the Olympics.  They are just the left-overs.  And this precarious situation just proves it.  But these organizations never learn.

[Sir Rols]

8 hours ago, CB2328 said:

The Paras should be held first, then the Olympics.  This would give the host city ample time to work through all of the logistical nightmares and correct the problems in preparation for the big show.  

Probably logistical reasons against it, but I've also always thought they'd work better as an operational test, and appetiser, to the main event, rather than a nightcap.

[DarJoLe]

The IOC will never allow the Paralympics to come first. It's an interesting political relationship between the two; the IOC do not particularly care about the IPC and what happens at the Paralympics, once the Olympic Closing Ceremony is done they are off and out of there. LOCOG was always challenged by the IOC as to why London 2012 was so integrated as an OCOG, they were never particularly enthused by the Games having the same logo for example, let alone decisions being made about the Olympics as to whether they affected the Paralympics. We were always warned against mentioning 'transition' (the logistics of turning an Olympic venue into a Paralympic venue) to the IOC as a reason to why something Olympic-related might not happen in the look, for example.

The IPC on the other hand actually like being associated with the Olympics. It gives the Paralympic movement kudos and for them in some way they see the Olympics as the warm up to their event (which was the angle Channel 4 took in London in promoting the event). The biggest issue the Paralympics face is sponsorship and getting that into the games through advertising within the look for example, which was the biggest concern for the IPC on their visits and not, unlike the Olympics, about getting the event logos in the right places for broadcast and media.

[Rob2012]

Uh oh...

IPC announces "major budget cuts" to Rio Paralympics amid funding crisis, including closure of Deodoro Park...

IPC President Sir Philip Craven: "Never before in the 56 year history of the Games have we faced circumstances like this"

Waiting for confirmation what that means for equestrian, 7-a-side footie & shooting

[Mainad]

8 minutes ago, Rob. said:

Uh oh...

IPC announces "major budget cuts" to Rio Paralympics amid funding crisis, including closure of Deodoro Park...

IPC President Sir Philip Craven: "Never before in the 56 year history of the Games have we faced circumstances like this"

Waiting for confirmation what that means for equestrian, 7-a-side footie & shooting

 

Paralympic Games to go ahead with major budget cuts:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/disability-sport/37135083

[Dylanlip]

Well, there's that "last straw" I was talking about. Even with the extra funding, 10 nations still might not make it, along with the cuts listed in the BBC article. When the Paras finish this year, the IPC's either gonna start heavily scrutinzing Olympic bids for Paralympic readiness, or just go on their own, because what's happening right now is a disgrace, if not also a probable breach of contract. When I evaluate/judge a host city, I count how they handled the Paras as well. And so far, as Craven put it, "Never before in the 56-year history of the Paralympic Games have we faced circumstances like this". That's some damning stuff.

[JMarkSnow2012]

On 16/08/2016 at 4:58 AM, baron-pierreIV said:

That's ANOTHER reason why I've always thought it was dumb to put the Paralympics AFTER the Olympics.  They are just the left-overs.  And this precarious situation just proves it.  But these organizations never learn.

Not the leftovers- a second chance to experience the thrills.

[Sir Rols]

44 minutes ago, JMarkSnow2012 said:

Not the leftovers- a second chance to experience the thrills.

I really think that's what fuels a lot of sales of para tickets. I personally know people in both Sydney and London who went to the paras because they didn't/couldn't get tickets to the main games, but wanted to get taste at what they missed through the paras. They found the paras inspiring - so I guess whatever their motivations, the result was good.
 

[baron-pierreIV]

I think the financial crunch besetting the Paras are a Russian plot.  It's their way of getting back at Craigie & the movement for banning them!!

[Alexjc]

On 20/08/2016 at 11:33 AM, baron-pierreIV said:

I think the financial crunch besetting the Paras are a Russian plot.  It's their way of getting back at Craigie & the movement for banning them!!

Scarily enough... You may have a valid point there Baron.

Brazil and Russia are members of the BRICS bloc that was bantered as the up and commers in the last decade...

[Lord David]

The Paralympics will never be before the Olympics, nor will it revert back to other cities/nations hosting. It's not the afterthought or dessert. It's it's own unique event. They hold the Olympics first for that maximum exposure and ensuring they get the proper dates. The make the Paralympics come a couple of weeks after, knowing well that there won't be as much exposure due to children coming back to school etc.

Let's just see how cheap the Rio Paralympics Opening Ceremony will be...

I don't think the games should combine to form a mega event. The Olympics should be extended by a week for flexibility, yes, but the Paralympics is it's own event which gives awareness to disabled athletes. They don't need their time in the sun be muddled down with regular athletes stealing all the spotlight. This is why the Commonwealth Games should have a separate disabled games, held after the Commonwealth Games. Another chance for 2 ceremonies, but the extra spent allows for those disabled athletes to have their moment.