2016 Olympics Athletes’ Village construction almost over

The company responsible for the development of the Athletes’ Village for the 2016 Olympics says the construction phase is 85 percent complete one year from the date athletes from around the world come here to compete in the games.

The first of close to 18,000 Olympic and Paralympic athletes and their technical teams will move into the massive condominium complex on July 24, 2016.

The Athletes’ Village will be home base for the athletes as they go for Olympic glory at the 2016 Games which will officially start on August 5, 2016.

Construction workers are still busy at work, but the complex has taken shape and some of the 3,064 apartments of the 31 17-story apartment buildings here are nearly completed.

The director of Ilha Pura, the company overseeing the project, Mauricio Cruz Lopes said the project was on schedule to be handed over to the Olympic organising committee in March of 2016.

“Our commitment is to deliver all the condos and the park before March 1, 2016 so the organising committee of the Olympic Games can prepare the apartments; put in all the beds, all the dressers, all the elements and equipment so it can function as an Olympic village. So, our timeline is until March 1st. The project is 85 percent complete following the schedule from the start and on its way to being ready and delivered by that date.” Lopes told Reuters.

Ilha Pura released a statement highlighting some of the sustainability components of the complex which will be converted into a large, planned neighbourhood once the games are over and the athletes have returned home.

The complex includes green roofs with grass growing on the top of some of the buildings to help prevent “urban hotspots”.

Three of the buildings will also have 76 solar panels that will generate energy to heat water for the complex.

The buildings are also designed to recycle waste water to irrigate a joint park in the middle of the compound with Ilha Pura saying 40 percent of the water here will be reused.

Each of the apartments are designed to accommodate people of all shapes and sizes with extra high showerheads and wider doors and ample hallways to accommodate wheelchairs and people with other mobility challenges.

“Our goal and our big hope is to surprise these 18,000 people from almost 200 countries who will arrive here in the last week of July, 2016. Surprise them with an Olympic village of the likes that has never been seen before. A completely sustainable village, in a marvellous place with views of the (Jacarepagua) lagoon, views of the ocean, views of the Pedra Branca State Park, which is an Atlantic Forest reserve. With a spectacular park in the middle (of the complex) where people can truly coexist and share unforgettable moments here,” Lopes said.

The park is expected to be one of the crown jewels of the facility.

The park measures 72,000 square meters (18 acres) and it will be integrated into the seven condominium complexes and all 31 buildings.

It will be complete with ample green spaces with native plant species, 4.5 kilometers (2.8 miles) of bike paths, lakes and areas to relax and enjoy the company of other athletes.

Construction started in November 2010.