Olympic leaders meet to grapple with issues facing 2016 Summer Games
The Olympic movement faces two crucial meetings in very different parts of the world this week.
On Friday, international track federation officials are scheduled to gather in Vienna to decide whether Russia’s track team -- banned for alleged widespread doping – has enacted sufficient reforms to be reinstated for the 2016 Summer Games.
The IAAF faces a difficult decision: The absence of the powerhouse Russians would greatly diminish the athletic drama in Rio de Janeiro, but allowing them to compete might taint the competition.
Track officials, who previously said they want to see “further significant work” from the Russians, will hear from an independent task force monitoring the situation.
Earlier in the week, the president of the International Olympic Federation is scheduled to visit Brazil to address equally significant issues.
Thomas Bach is to meet with the country’s interim president, Michel Temer, and inspect venues in advance of the Games scheduled to begin on Aug. 5.
Organizers have struggled with an array of problems, including political turmoil that has President Dilma Rousseff facing impeachment and water pollution at venues where sailing and swimming will take place.
Brazilian officials insisted last week that another situation -- the Zika virus outbreak -- poses minimal risk to visiting athletes and fans.
Though health officials have predicted the outbreak will subside by August, a group of scientists, doctors and researchers recently called for the Games to be postponed or moved.
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