Federal Prosecutor’s Office Calls for Ban on Events at Rio 2016 Olympic Facilities

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Federal Prosecutor’s Office (MPF) has urged the courts to ban the holding of events at the city’s Olympic venues, including the Olympic Park, where Rock in Rio 2019 was held less than a month ago.

In a public civil action, the prosecutors claim that the embargo is required, until a report from the Fire Department, a builiding permit, and other documents for obtainin an occupancy permit are provided.

According to the MPF, in June this year, a Federal court issued a temporary injunction that these documents be presented. Now the prosecutor’s request to the court is a complement to the previous one.

In the new submission, MPF pointed out that Rock in Rio 2019 occurred “without the rendering of accounts for Rock in Rio 2017”. The body further notes that municipal directors failed to demand – before the festival – full compensation for “damages caused by the last edition”.

The MPF states that, in the past two editions, the event caused “visible damage” in the Olympic Park, in the West Zone, mentioning that there was theft of power cables from the Tennis Center. According to the MPF, the theft left the Olympic arena with no electricity.

“To complete this scenario, Rock in Rio and the activities that occur daily in the Barra Olympic Park and Deodoro Sports Complex seem to take place in the absence of panic and fire licenses from the Rio Fire Department” states the text.

In a note, the festival’s press office announced that Rock in Rio “has not been notified by the Federal Prosecutor’s Office and that it is available to provide all clarifications”.