SYDNEY: Two years after John Coates called delayed preparations for the Rio de Janeiro Games “the worst I have experienced,” the International Olympic Committee (IOC) vice-president said on Saturday that he’s impressed with the progress organisers have made with 90 days until the Games begin.

Coates, also president of the Australian Olympic Committee, was in Brazil in early April for the last IOC coordination commission meeting, accompanied by Australian team chef de mission Kitty Chiller.

“We were both impressed with the positive progress made over recent months, particularly in the two main clusters of Barra Olympic Park and Deodoro Olympic Park,” Coates said on Saturday at the AOC’s annual general meeting.

“Our conclusion following the recent coordination commission meeting was, and remains, that the Rio 2016 ... and its partners are ready to rise to the challenges and deliver Olympic and Paralympic Games that will reflect the Brazilians’ warmth, hospitality and passion for sport.”

In April 2014, Coates, who had then made six trips to Brazil, said the local organisers were behind schedule “in many, many ways” and were in worse shape than Greek organisers were in preparing for the 2004 Olympics.

Published in Dawn, May 8th, 2016