2016 Olympic officials start two-year countdown with new promises

With exactly two years to go before the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, organizers have once again promised they will be ready for the Games.

“We have concluded the exclusive planning phase and are now entering the operational preparation phase when the competition structures begin to take shape,” Carlos Arthur Nuzman, president of Rio 2016, said Tuesday.

Preparations have been plagued by construction delays, civil unrest and governmental disorganization. The International Olympic Committee has expressed its concern and recently sent a top official to Brazil to oversee the work.

“We keep our commitment to staging fantastic Games, in a timely manner, within budget,” said Sidney Levy, Rio 2016’s chief executive. “Today, 55% of the Games’ sports venues are operationally ready, and all infrastructure projects for the city are underway.”

On Tuesday, the organizing committee also launched a new website and unveiled a colorful -- if slightly amorphous -- “look” based on Rio’s iconic skyline.