Rio Olympic VillageWith the Opening Ceremonies for the 2016 Olympics are less than two weeks away, much has been written about whether host city Rio de Janeiro is ready to host the Summer Games, with concerns about crime, the Zika virus, water pollution, transportation issues and political and financial upheaval topping the list.
Now add problems with athlete housing at the Olympic Village.
Sunday was scheduled to be move-in day for many athletes -- including some from Team USA -- but representatives from a number of participant nations have complained about the recently-completed facilities, the New York Times reported Monday.
The leader of the Australian Olympic delegation was among the more outspoken participants, saying said its athletes would not be checking in because of problems with plumbing, electricity and natural gas.
"Problems include blocked toilets, leaking pipes, exposed wiring, darkened stairwells where no lighting has been installed and dirty floors in need of a massive clean," said Kitty Chiller, Australia's chef de mission in Rio de Janeiro for the Australian Olympic Committee.
A "stress test" that Australian officials conducted at the village on Saturday night led to the decision to not allow its athletes to move in. To test the facilities, the officials simultaneously turned on lights and flushed toilets in apartments on several floors.
"The system failed," Chiller said. "Water came down walls, there was a strong smell of gas in some apartments, and there was shorting in electrical wiring."
"This is my fifth Olympics Games, I have never experienced a Village in this lack of state of readiness at this point in time," Chiller told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
Chiller said that delegations from Britain, New Zealand and other countries were experiencing similar problems in the Olympic Village.
Sweden's women's soccer team also refused to move into its apartments because of similar problems, according to a Brazilian newspaper, which went on to report that the United States, Italy and the Netherlands had paid to hire workers to finish their rooms.
Even the host country's athletes are being kept out of the Olympic Village, staying in hotels until problems are repaired.
The United States expects to have 500 athletes and staff members staying in the athletes' village.
"As is the case with every Games, we're working with the local organizers to address minor issues and make sure the village is ready for Team USA athletes," said Patrick Sandusky, a spokesman for the United States Olympic Committee.
Rio's mayor, Eduardo Paes, has reportedly tried to laugh off any problems, claiming he was considering putting in a kangaroo to "make the Australians feel at home." On a more serious note, Paes claimed the Rio athlete housing was "more beautiful and better" than the one in Sydney in the 2000 Olympics.
While numerous programs were revealed this weekend, the worst may already be history.
Australia's Chiller said a team of plumbers was already at work to fix the problems. "I am reasonably confident that we will be able to enter the Village on Wednesday," Chiller said.
Chiller added that the rest of the Olympic Village "is one of the best" she had seen.
A spokesman for the British delegation confirmed problems but added that issues are being addressed, saying "this is not uncommon with new-build structures of this type."
New Zealand Olympic Committee chef de mission Rob Waddell said the village was not completely ready when he arrived last week but the issues had been resolved. "We were disappointed the village wasn't as ready as it might have been when we arrived and it hasn't been easy. Our team has had to get stuck in to get the job done," Waddell said in a statement, adding that his nation's athletes were beginning to move into the village.
Once repairs are completed, the approximately 10,000 athletes moving into the 31-building village will find a self-contained community planned to have all the services they need over the 17 days of the 2016 Olympics.
In addition to the athlete apartments which feature two shared bedrooms on either side of a small living area, the village itself also includes a large dining hall, a smaller restaurant, and prayer rooms for different faiths.
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