Another tough week for Rio Olympic organizers - Los Angeles Times
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Another tough week for Rio Olympic organizers

The Christ the Redeemer statue stands above the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro.
(Yasuyoshi Chiba / Getty Images)
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Rio de Janeiro Olympic officials are probably glad to see this week coming to an end.

The rocky road to the 2016 Summer Games turned even bumpier in recent days because of two key resignations and allegations of a new scandal.

With the federal government embroiled in a political crisis, Sports Minister George Hilton and Col. Adilson Moreira, who was overseeing security for the Games, left their posts this week, according to Brazilian media reports.

Moreira expressed concerns about continuing his work, reportedly accusing embattled President Dilma Rousseff of a “lack of scruples.â€

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His departure follows news that funding for the construction of the Deodoro venue complex has been blocked while authorities investigate allegations of corruption.

Every Olympic cycle brings its challenges as host cities prepare for a massive, complex and expensive sporting event.

Cost overruns and construction delays plagued organizers of the 2014 Sochi Games. There were concerns about terrorism in London in 2012 and a lack of snow in Vancouver in 2010.

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But Rio has faced unusual -- and ever-mounting -- difficulties. A slumping economy and the Zika virus outbreak have overshadowed news of the impending competition.

Organizers and Olympic officials have continued to insist they will stage a successful event.

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