Rio 2016 games start with suspect land deal empowering private developer

[Brad Klein]

http://golfweek.com/news/2012/apr/25/analysis-rio-false-start-amid-all-games/

[Tim_Cronin]

What? Chicago won the 2016 bid after all?

[Howard Riefs]

Brad,

Was the fact that Rio 2016 didn't own the land (yet) common knowledge among the design finalists during the process? Did you previously know?  

[Tom_Doak]

Brad,

Was the fact that Rio 2016 didn't own the land (yet) common knowledge among the design finalists during the process? Did you previously know?  

No.  But with the non-disclosure agreement, I probably shouldn't say more.

[Randy Thompson]

Looks to me like nobody knows at this point if they own the land or donīt own. From the article it was like, depends on who you ask, lots of people seem to be responding,,,there is nothing here,,,it all cool...we own the land??? It seems to depend on who you talk to on how it is interupted. It will be intersting to see if GH signs his contract or not, that will be a sign if there is a problem or not.

[Brad Klein]

Howard, I first wrote about it in early February trying to explain the reason for the month-long delay in announcing the winner of the design competition. It was evident right away the delay was caused by Rio having to negotiate control over the parcel.

[Tom_Doak]

Howard, I first wrote about it in early February trying to explain the reason for the month-long delay in announcing the winner of the design competition. It was evident right away the delay was caused by Rio having to negotiate control over the parcel.

Really, Brad?  Evident?  Did all the architects you spoke with know about it?

[Peter Pallotta]

It will get done, not without some stress for Mr Hanse and his team, unfortunately. But if Ty Votaw starts double-speaking like Tim Finchem it's gonna be a agonizing read.

Peter

[Brad Klein]

Tom, Maybe I should I say that I inferred and realized it was part of the explanation, this based upon conversations in early February with people who had some sense of what was going on, as well as conversations with representatives from five of the architect teams -- none of whom had a clue as to what was really going on. But when I wrote about the land issue no one from Brazil or from the involved committees bothered to correct me and it turns out the land deal was part of the reason.

[RJ_Daley]

This whole deal seems FUBAR even before it gets rolling.  Reading some of the accounts of Faveala drug and extortion gangs brazen activites including 60,000 murders in last decade unsloved, conflicts over Olympic land acquisition issues where the Oly village is supposed to be, and how many conflicts of interest politicians have with there PPPs (Public Private Partnerships)that are planned to develop and gentrify Oly venues after the games, it looks like no place for a simple golf course architect.

[Tony Ristola]

I don't quite understand the title to the thread.

What is suspect? As the article states... "The city doesn’t own the land and has been forced to negotiate with the title holder, entrepreneur Pasquale Mauro."

Empowering? (From the title)
Forced to negotiate? (From the article)
It is his land, and has infinitely more value developed other than a golf course. You would think the IOC and city would have had this cleared up beforehand.

Who is suing who in the lawsuit, and what are the grounds for the suit?

I do hope everything is resolved to the satisfaction of all parties.

It reminds me a little bit of the 2018 Winter Olympics bid for Munich. Garmish-Partenkirchen was to hold alpine events, a natural, but they forgot to ask the proud & wiley Bavarian farmers beforehand; they had land inside the security zone. Some didn't want their land, in the family for generations to be mucked about by the IOC.

[Steve Salmen]

If nothing gets done, they could move it to the most appropriate namesake: The Olympic Club.

[Randy Thompson]

I can only speculate, I have no inside info but it would not surprise me to find out they have a very detailed understanding with the land owner and now the land owner wants to change the terms in his favor. His added leverage at this point, he considers..good business negotiations techniques. I would imagine the comittees feels legaly protected and are not putting a whole lot of weight on what the landowner is trying to claim or renegotiate. If there nervous and donīt have the legal papers documented in their favor then GH contract will be delayed. But up to this point in time, everything they have done has been put under a microscope and as a result done in proffessional manner. i really canīt see them dropping the ball or missing somehting of this size. But, hey, itīs Brazil...anything is possible.