Weekly Report - 10 March 2016 (WR-16-10)

BRAZIL | More Olympic Cuts. Rio de Janeiro’s Olympic Committee is to cut a further R$900m (US$228m) from its budget. Most of the cuts will come from changes to sporting venues, such as the spectator stands for the rowing. But the city is also scaling back its plans for the metro. A new extension due to connect the city’s southern zone with the western suburb of Barra da Tijuca, site of the main Olympic park, will only have two functioning stops, rather than the six originally planned. Pão de queijo, the traditional Brazilian cheese bread snacks, will also be served to visiting dignitaries rather than canapés.