By Nick Butler

Francesco Ricci Ditti has hit back at the criticism launched by Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes last week ©AFP/Getty ImagesApril 28 - International Tennis Federation (ITF) President Francesco Ricci Bitti has hit back at claims by Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Paes that the governing body is making unacceptable demands ahead of the Olympics as "inaccurate and unfair".


Paes claimed last week that international federations will "keep complaining about me until the day the Olympics start, because sometimes they want us to do things that are too large". 

He singled out the ITF for demanding a 20,000-capacity stadium, when plans are for a 10,000-seater one.

Ricci Bitti is also President of the Association for Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) and earlier this month was vocally critical of preparations for the Games.

"The specific reference to tennis is both inaccurate and unfair because the existing project fully satisfies the requirements of a 10,000-seat centre court stadium," he told insidethegames. 

"The ITF has never requested that the centre court capacity be changed."

According to the official Candidature File submitted to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) by Rio 2016 in February 2009, the overall capacity for the Olympic Tennis Centre should be 18,250.

This is made up 10,000 centre court capacity, as well as the 5,000 for show court one, 3,000 for show court two and a further 250 for other courts.

The ITF claimed their demands have not changed since then.

Eduardo Paes had singled out tennis when criticising the demands made by International Federation's ©Latin Content Editorial/Getty ImagesEduardo Paes had singled out tennis when criticising the demands made by International Federation's ©Latin Content Editorial/Getty Images



The outburst from Paes, a figure known for speaking his mind, could further upset an already fragile relationship between Rio 2016 and ASOIF at a crucial time in preparations for the Games.

Following the latest visit of the IOC Coordination Commission to Rio last month, slow progress regarding the construction of venues was lambasted during the ASOIF General Assembly at the SportAccord Convention in Belek, Turkey.

The criticism was led by RIcci Bitti who blamed the Government and Rio Mayor's office, rather than Rio 2016, for the continual delays.

Since then, a long awaited infrastructural budget has been unveiled by the Municipal, State and Federal Governments, although much more progress is clearly required. 

Tennis at Rio 2016 will take place on the main Olympic Park cluster at Barra da Tijuca, pictured in May, 2013 ©LatinContentWO/Getty ImagesTennis at Rio 2016 will take place on the main Olympic Park cluster at Barra da Tijuca, pictured in May 2013 ©LatinContentWO/Getty Images



Speaking today to insidethegames, Ricci Bitti outlined further the stance of the ITF and other governing bodies as they seek to work with rather than against Brazilian authorities to address all their concerns.

"The international federations remain fully committed to a successful Games in Rio in 2016 and will do everything in their abilities to support that outcome," he said. 

"However, at the recent meeting with ASOIF in Turkey, they expressed their general concern about the progress of venue construction, which is behind schedule and in some cases significantly so.

"The IFs know very well that their demands should only be related to the bid documents and IOC technical requirements.

"Contrary to what has been stated, instead of being more demanding, the IFs have reassured the IOC that they are willing to show flexibility in taking account the current situation, but that Rio 2016 still needs to fulfil the obligations to which it committed."