Rio 2016 Olympic Games track cycling test event dates changed
Event at new Olympic Veldodrome has been moved from March to the end of April to allow for new track to be installed
The Rio Olympic Velodrome, photographed in December (Rio City Government/Renato Sette Camara)
The Rio 2016 track cycling test event has been moved from 18-20 March to 29 April-1 May to allow more time for the installation of the track. The Aquece Rio International Track Cycling Challenge will see the Rio Olympic Velodrome become the fifth of the seven new venues being constructed in Barra Olympic Park to host a test event.
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The Olympic Tennis Centre staged the first competition at the Olympic Park in December, while Carioca Arena 1 is currently hosting the basketball test event. Carioca Arena 3 will host weightlifting on 7-10 April, following which the Olympic Aquatics Stadium will stage Olympic and Paralympic swimming and water polo competitions. The velodrome will then open its doors on 29 April, the same day that the handball test event starts at the Future Arena.
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Barra Olympic Park, with the Future Arena in the foreground followed in line by Carioca Arenas 1, 2 and 3, then the Rio Olympic Velodrome, with the Olympic Tennis Centre on the left (Photo: Brasil2016/André Motta)
Work on installing the new track at the velodrome will begin in February and the Rio 2016 organising committee has confirmed that the change of date is due to a delay in its preparation works for the track installation.
Rio 2016 issued a statement saying: “Rio 2016 and the UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale/International Cycling Union) look forward to an exciting test event and will continue to work closely together in the preparation and planning for both the test event and the Olympic and Paralympic Games. There is no impact on the Games-time competitions, with Olympic track cycling taking place from 11-16 August and Paralympic track cycling from 8-11 September.”
