Brazil's Olympic Stadium Goes Dark Over Unpaid $250,000 Electric Bill

Tyler Durden's picture




 

Three weeks ago, in “‘Dark’" Days Ahead: Main Power Supplier For Brazil Olympic Games Pulls Out”, we brought you the latest humiliation out of Latin America’s EM darling gone bust.

To be sure, there were already a number of concerns about the upcoming Olympic games in Rio. For instance, last summer we learned that thanks to a lack of sanitation infrastructure, Olympic athletes are almost certain to come into contact with disease-causing viruses in the water. As AP reported, these viruses in some tests “measured up to 1.7 million times the level of what would be considered hazardous on a Southern California beach.”

Meanwhile, Brazil’s worsening budget crisis means the government is no longer willing (or able) to foot the bill for costs in excess of the Rio organizers’ budget. In other words: organizers can only spend what they estimate they’ll take in from sponsorships, ticket sales, and a grant from the International Olympic Committee.

Unfortunately, the games are already some $520 million over budget, which means cutbacks will be necessary.

First on the list: amenities in Olympic Village where athletes will be forced to pay for their own air conditioning and where televisions will not come standard in rooms.

As if all of the above weren’t embarrassing enough, a major supplier of power reportedly backed out of the event last month, suggesting that in addition to unsanitary conditions and no air conditioning, athletes could well run out of energy - literally.

As Reuters reported, “longtime Olympic power provider Aggreko has pulled out of a tender to supply generators for the games in Rio de Janeiro next year, dealing a major blow to organizers rushing to secure an energy source for the world's largest sporting event.” Here’s what we said:

More worrisome is that “the temporary power contract guarantees a stable and secure energy supply for international broadcasters.”

 

Interruptions in coverage mean lost ad impressions and if advertisers and sponsors become concerned that Brazil will ultimately be unable to deliver, they could begin to rethink their commitment.

 

Additionally, one has to wonder how long it will be before fans begin to rethink their plans to attend.

 

After all, no one wants to go to an opening ceremony where the only light is the Olympic torch.

Well believe it or not, the track and field stadium for this year’s games went dark on Monday due to unpaid utility bills. "In a statement, the city hall said Botafogo soccer club has been responsible for the utility bills since May 2015," AP reports. "But the club told the AP in a statement that the city government owed it money to pay water and electricity bills."

“We have to find out who is responsible for the debt,” the club said.

Yes, "we have to find out," because the bill is a quarter of a million dollars. "The Brazilian website Globo Esporte, which is connected to the newspaper O Globo, said the unpaid bills totalled 1 million reals ($250,000)," AP continues, noting that apparently, the lights have been out since last week while the water was cut off last month. 

"[The stadium] is the home ground of Botafogo football, which was previously responsible for the costs of running the stadium," Sky News says. "But this month the club returned management of the arena to Brazil's government while preparations got under way for the Olympics."

AP goes on to document the pitiable plight of the games' organizers, many of whom are now unpaid volunteers who, in addition to not receiving a wage for their efforts, are actually forced to pay for their own accommodations while in Rio. 

So not only has the provider of auxiliary power pulled out of a tender for the games, the host city is now refusing to pay the light bill for a key facility. We wonder how long it will be before Brazil "pulls the plug" (so to speak), on the whole thing.

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Wed, 01/06/2016 - 19:17 | 7007565 nmewn
nmewn's picture

"Only" a half billion over budget?

Its another socialist murical I tells ya!!!

Wed, 01/06/2016 - 19:21 | 7007571 MrNosey
MrNosey's picture

Put it this way, the mafia have nothing on our governments, it's just a question of perceived legality!

More under-reported real news governments (Mafiosi) do not want you to see because they facilitated it......

http://beforeitsnews.com/global-unrest/2016/01/1000-depraved-migrants-ra...

Wed, 01/06/2016 - 19:27 | 7007607 Baby Bladeface
Baby Bladeface's picture

Is already old, trite and bearded. Why the repeations since yesterday net.kook?

Spamming itsoldstalenews.com site elsewhere to take.

Wed, 01/06/2016 - 19:42 | 7007696 TeamDepends
TeamDepends's picture

The Night Putting competition has been temporarily postponed....

Wed, 01/06/2016 - 20:43 | 7008015 Stuck on Zero
Stuck on Zero's picture

I'm looking forward to seeing 100m competitions where the runners all carry head mounted lights. Also cool.  Instead of Vuvuzuelas vendors can sell flashlights.  Javelins can be made to glow in the dark.

Wed, 01/06/2016 - 20:50 | 7008055 Skateboarder
Skateboarder's picture

There's usually magic money flowing to these projects... and then the country goes bankrupt. In the case of Brazil, the project went to a country that is already bankrupt.

Now, where the hell is the magic money?

Wed, 01/06/2016 - 20:59 | 7008115 willwork4food
willwork4food's picture

Que on Skate, I was thinking the same thing:When there's blood on the streets kind of thing. Money will magically appear, deals will be brokered and the IMF/world bank will get their pound of flesh, in REAL assets.

Wed, 01/06/2016 - 22:24 | 7008637 Implied Violins
Implied Violins's picture

Too bad Howard Cosell is dead. I would pay to see him say, "DOWN goes NBC! DOWN goes CBS! DOWN goes ABC!" as the lights go out...or are there other channels I should know about? I haven't watched TV since 1981.

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 00:19 | 7009113 tarabel
tarabel's picture

 

 

I'm thinking Dandy Don Meredith is more apropos in this instance.

Turn out the lights, the party's oveeerrrrr.

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 07:12 | 7009841 kralizec
kralizec's picture

Oh hell, they just need to sell some more "Brazil Butt" DVD's and all will be swell.

/

Wed, 01/06/2016 - 19:43 | 7007691 38BWD22
38BWD22's picture

 

 

No problem!  They can have the Olympic events in the day time!

BRICS...  Smile,,,

Wed, 01/06/2016 - 22:07 | 7008527 you know they a...
you know they are lying because they are talking's picture

It's very annoying when every article you (MrNosey) show up to advertise for that other website. Zero Hedge would be smart to ban you. Just my opinion.

Wed, 01/06/2016 - 19:26 | 7007602 The Spanish Amb...
The Spanish Ambassador's picture

I tells ya!!!....is that you Yosemite Sam?

Wed, 01/06/2016 - 19:46 | 7007713 knukles
knukles's picture

I like the unsanitary conditions, best. 

Wed, 01/06/2016 - 19:18 | 7007568 MrNosey
MrNosey's picture

Deleted duplicate post

Wed, 01/06/2016 - 19:22 | 7007587 Baby Bladeface
Baby Bladeface's picture

Sadly, neglected that solution for original post...

Wed, 01/06/2016 - 19:23 | 7007591 The Spanish Amb...
The Spanish Ambassador's picture

is that code for ' I gets excited sometime'

Wed, 01/06/2016 - 19:24 | 7007585 White Mountains
White Mountains's picture

Imagine when America goes dark.  It has happend once in awhile, to small areas.  Resulted in mass looting and  the end of rule of law while the lights were out.....

Imagine when ALL of America goes dark for 1, 5, ten days...or a couple weeks.  Fuck.

Wed, 01/06/2016 - 19:24 | 7007594 The Spanish Amb...
The Spanish Ambassador's picture

and no guns cuz Barry O is a crybaby.

Wed, 01/06/2016 - 19:44 | 7007704 RevIdahoSpud3
RevIdahoSpud3's picture

They were tears of joy for the mulatto thinking he was pulling everyone's chain again.

Wed, 01/06/2016 - 19:32 | 7007632 Hulk
Hulk's picture

Olympic Day Games Bitchez !!!

It worked for the Romans !!!

 

Wed, 01/06/2016 - 19:43 | 7007639 August
August's picture

The IOC should try a "free market" Olympics, with no drug testing and no state subsidies of any kind, just to see what happens.  

I do believe that the tried 'n' true fascist-model Olympiads have just about run their course.

Wed, 01/06/2016 - 19:34 | 7007643 NotApplicable
NotApplicable's picture

On the brighter side, odds of the stadium burning down due to an electrical fire plummet.

Wed, 01/06/2016 - 19:45 | 7007712 RevIdahoSpud3
RevIdahoSpud3's picture

The odds might increase if it is properly insured. Not that anyone would do that of course.

Wed, 01/06/2016 - 20:58 | 7008108 TomGa
TomGa's picture

"Pull it!"

Wed, 01/06/2016 - 19:38 | 7007667 Bunga Bunga
Bunga Bunga's picture

The missing $250,000 were found by a corrupt IOC member in an envelope.

Wed, 01/06/2016 - 19:41 | 7007685 reTARD
reTARD's picture

Now the Olympics in the dark just might actually be interesting...

Wed, 01/06/2016 - 19:47 | 7007720 RevIdahoSpud3
RevIdahoSpud3's picture

So athletes need to bring their own candles, soap, towels?

Wed, 01/06/2016 - 19:51 | 7007743 The Spanish Amb...
The Spanish Ambassador's picture

and condoms and anal lube for the muzz.

Wed, 01/06/2016 - 19:50 | 7007737 FreedomGuy
FreedomGuy's picture

They are going to have to institute a special tax on the drug dealers and prostitutes. These are the profitable growth industries there who have a lot to gain with the games.

Wed, 01/06/2016 - 20:38 | 7007948 Able Ape
Able Ape's picture

Shit-can the games and end this nonsense once and for all....Train 8 hours a day, 7 days a week for 4 years and come in .01 second behind and you're forgotten like last week's left-overs in the back of the fridge...THAT's insane....

Wed, 01/06/2016 - 20:31 | 7007951 Bay Area Guy
Bay Area Guy's picture

Tokyo won't need any artificial lighting for the Games in 2020.  Fuku radiation will light up the athletes enough that even at night, TV cameras will pick them up.

Time to disband the Olympics already.  I found them interesting when true amateurs were competing, but now it's just another payday for overpayed, coddled professional athletes.

Wed, 01/06/2016 - 20:39 | 7007993 Montani Semper ...
Montani Semper Liberi's picture

 A little legal mumbo-jumbo from the IOC host city contract:

The IOC shall be entitled to terminate this Contract and to withdraw the Games from the City, the N OC and the OCOG if: i. the Host Country is at any time, whether before the scheduled commencement of the Games or during the Games, in a state of war, civil disorder, boycott, embargo decreed by the international community or in a situation officially recogni sed as one of belligerence or if the
IOC has reasonable grounds to believe, in its sole discretion, that the safety of participants in

the Games would be seriously threatened or jeopardised for any reason whatsoever

 

Wed, 01/06/2016 - 20:48 | 7008041 just the tip
just the tip's picture

but

but

butt

butt

NBC is advertising their coverage of the olympics.  or is it another olympics they are broadcasting?

Wed, 01/06/2016 - 20:48 | 7008051 RaceToTheBottom
RaceToTheBottom's picture

Publicize the real Olympics:

The NEOCON OLYMPICS.

USA, USA!!!!

Wed, 01/06/2016 - 21:04 | 7008144 Dave's not here
Dave's not here's picture

I worked around Rio and across the Bay for several years.  I quit last year just before the bust..  Even IF they got their shit together in time for the games, you'd have to be insane to go there.  Traffic is........ Well there's just no way to explain it.  I need some really big words that I dont know how to spell..

Wed, 01/06/2016 - 21:16 | 7008218 PrimalScream
PrimalScream's picture

good one .. lovin' it. You should go back and hire yourself out ... as a high-price tour guide.

 Voce tem armas??  kkkkkk!!!

Wed, 01/06/2016 - 21:43 | 7008366 hairball48
hairball48's picture

Rio was a shithole in 1970 when I was there(twice) as a "screamin' seaman" for Uncle during the Viet Nam days..

And traffic was crazy back then too. The whores were cheap though....especially if you used U$D's---still pegged to gold then(sorta/kinda)---pre August '71.

Toilet paper worked well to pay some whores too. The currency(cruzeiro?) was going to shit then too. Toilet paper as we've seen recently is as good as gold sometimes :) I have lots of Charmin in my supplies.:)

Wed, 01/06/2016 - 21:20 | 7008247 boattrash
boattrash's picture

Who cares? UNTIL it's widespread in the U.S.?    Just sayin... >S<

Wed, 01/06/2016 - 21:35 | 7008324 hairball48
hairball48's picture

I give a fuck about the Rio Olympics

I don't give a fuck about the Rio Olympics

Wed, 01/06/2016 - 21:36 | 7008332 hairball48
hairball48's picture

I voted myself down because I don't give a fuck :)

Wed, 01/06/2016 - 22:12 | 7008567 northern vigor
northern vigor's picture

I voted you up because I don't give a fuck either.

Actually I do...I hope the Olympics flop so badly that it costs every entitled cock sucker on the Olympic committee his job.

Wed, 01/06/2016 - 21:48 | 7008400 christiangustafson
christiangustafson's picture

There is always money in the banana stand.

Wed, 01/06/2016 - 21:50 | 7008403 Buster Cherry
Buster Cherry's picture

Stadiums should never be a public expendature. They should be bought and paid for by those that use it to make a living entertaining the attendees.

 

You know with the power off for a week, the sewage lift stations in that thing are overflowing unless they locked the doors.

Wed, 01/06/2016 - 22:13 | 7008573 Bopper09
Bopper09's picture

First 30 000 people with flashligts get in free!

Wed, 01/06/2016 - 22:19 | 7008577 surf@jm
surf@jm's picture

Lets see......what was that movie?....Oh yes, ...I`m going to get you sucker....the ghetto Olympics......

I can see it now.......The new Olympic sport, will be to see how fast you can swim the Rio Grande into Texas, and steal some flashlight batteries and bring them back, while carrying a bale of marijuana on your back......

Wed, 01/06/2016 - 22:39 | 7008735 romario
romario's picture

If u see the amount of Porsches being driven in Sao Paulo, you would think twice before thinking everyone shits on rivers around here. Somehow some smartasses are doing fine. Are we Argentina or venezuela?

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 07:50 | 7009994 zaphire999
zaphire999's picture

ROMARIO ..

Here is your answer:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-35242163

 

hahaha haahahahahahahaha 

I wonder where those Porsches come from?

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 02:42 | 7009457 SmittyinLA
SmittyinLA's picture

Abengoa

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