RIO DE JANEIRO — The most troubled venue for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics — the indoor cycling velodrome — is almost ready to go with the games opening in just under six weeks.
Rio organizers took possession of the building on Sunday with about 30 mostly Brazilian cyclists spinning around the banked track during a practice session.
This is the last permanent venue at the Olympic Park being handed over to organizers. Repeated delays and contract disputes forced two cycling test events to be canceled.
The first real racing on the track will be after the Olympics open Aug. 5. It will follow months of complaints from the International Cycling Union, the sport’s ruling body.
“It’s certainly not ideal, but given the circumstances we’re very happy to have some practice this weekend,” said Gilles Peruzzi, the UCI technical delegate. After all the setbacks, he called the venue a “positive outcome.”
However, the venue is still a work in progress. Temporary seating still must go in, along with concessions and other behind-the-scenes facilities. Window cleaners were still working Sunday at one end of the track, and painting remains to be done.
“We see that the building is still under construction, so there is a bit of dust on the track,” said Swiss rider Gael Suter, who practiced Sunday and has already qualified for his first Olympics. “Maybe it is not 100 percent yet. But no doubt it will be ready for the Olympics, and it will be a fast track.”
Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes, who has spoken at handovers of almost every Olympic project, repeated his standard speech. He said limited public money was spent on the Olympics, with private companies handling key projects.
