U.S. Olympic official gives Rio de Janeiro high marks

The head of the U.S. Olympic Committee, on a briefing trip to Brazil, has been encouraged by the prospects for a successful 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games.

“This trip has afforded me the opportunity to view the impressive progress that has been made in Rio,” Larry Probst, chairman of the USOC, said in a prepared statement. “While there is still work to be done, the Rio 2016 leadership team and the people of Brazil are 100 percent focused on delivering a great Games.”

Preparations have been plagued by construction delays and civil unrest. The International Olympic Committee recently took several emergency steps, including the deployment of a top executive to oversee the work.

After the somewhat subdued Olympics in Sochi last winter, Rio organizers promised that -- if nothing else -- their fans will be energized and partying in typical Brazilian style. Probst seemed to agree.

“I’ve been equally impressed by Rio’s landscape and its people, while experiencing the excitement as the venues take shape,” he said.