Rio de Janeiro subway line might miss Games deadline

The metro line extension that will connect Rio de Janeiro’s Olympic Park in Barra de Tijuca with the rest of the city is at risk of not being finished before the start of the Games in August, if a delayed development bank loan is not disbursed, two senior government sources told on Monday.

The transport link, which was a key bid promise when Rio was chosen to host South America’s first Olympics, is vital to transport fans from the tourist hotspots of Copacabana and Ipanema to venues where sports such as swimming, basketball and tennis will be held.

“There is a risk of the work not being finished, but there is still enough time to turn it around,” a senior city government source said.

At issue is a 1.4 billion reais ($350 million) loan from the BNDES development bank that needs to be released by Brazil’s cash-strapped federal government.

The money was supposed to bedisbursed last year but still has not arrived, a source from thestate government said.