IOC Set To Start Working In Rio On 2016 Olympics

GRAHAM DUNBAR

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — After the excitement of bidding and the euphoria of winning, the reality of making the 2016 Olympics happen starts in Rio de Janeiro this week.

The International Olympic Committee is sending an expert team to Brazil on Wednesday to begin shaping the $14.4 billion games with Rio's organizing committee and government agencies.

"We start immediately with working with the Brazilians," IOC President Jacques Rogge told The Associated Press on Monday.

IOC team leader Gilbert Felli, executive director of the Olympic Games, said planning would begin during a two-day seminar for 300 Rio officials.

"Just to make sure that there is a good understanding of the Games preparation, and reassess maybe the weak points that they had during the bid," Felli told the AP at the Olympic Museum. "We have raised different issues that we believe needed careful follow-up."

Security and public safety was highlighted throughout the two-year bidding campaign before Rio beat out defeated Chicago, Madrid and Tokyo in an Oct. 2 vote of IOC members.