IOC: Rousseff impeachment vote won't hurt games preparations

Posted April 18, 2016 7:00 am

The Associated Press

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) - The IOC says the impeachment process against Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff should not divert from preparations for the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Brazil's Chamber of Deputies voted Sunday to open impeachment proceedings against Rousseff, less than four months before the Aug. 5 opening of South America's first Olympics. The measure now goes to the Senate, where a majority vote will determine whether Rousseff is suspended.

The IOC says preparations "have now entered into a very operational phase where these kinds of political issues have much less influence than at other stages of organizing the Olympic Games."

The IOC coordination commission visited Rio last week for its final inspection ahead of the games.

The IOC says "we have seen the great progress being made and we remain confident about the success of the Olympic Games in August."

An anti-government demonstrator cries after the lower house of Congress voted to impeach Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff in Brasilia, Brazil, Sunday, April 17, 2016. The measure now goes to the Senate. Rousseff is accused of using accounting tricks in managing the federal budget to maintain spending and shore up support. (AP Photo/Joedson Alves) The Associated Press

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