NEW YORK — Despite a growing number of international concerns tied to the Olympic Games in August — from the Zika virus and polluted water to local crime and political instability — Brazil’s new minister of sport said he is confident the Games themselves will be “successful.”
“Brazil is completely ready for the Games,” Leonardo Picciani told USA TODAY Sports in an interview Friday. “Brazil and Rio de Janeiro worked hard and seriously in the last seven years to be prepared to host the Olympic Games. We are sure that we will have a fantastic Olympic Games. All the issues are gone and all the venues are fantastic.