The Stadium, which is due to host athletics, and probably rugby sevens, during Rio 2016 was "closed indefinitely" earlier this week by the city's Mayor Eduardo Paes after he was told that there were safety fears over its roof.

"We've received a report about the Stadium and it did not come with any solutions attached," said Armando Queiroga, President of the city Government's public works department RioUrbe.

"It's a serious problem and we can't forecast when it will open again.

"We need from 30 to 60 days to find the solution and after that we will have some perspective."

Authorities warned the roof could present a risk for spectators if the wind reached over 63 kilometres per hour.


The Stadium, nicknamed locally Engenhão, due to its location in the Engenho de Dentro neighborhood is currently home to local football club Botafogo.

The architects behind the design have been named as Carlos Porto, Gilson Santos, Geraldo Lopes and José R Ferreira Gomes, though their work is not thought to be at fault.

Some architects are blaming the problem on the fact that the Stadium, which cost $192 million reais (£127 million/€150 million), was finished only a month before before the start of the 2007 Pan American Games, which it had been built for.

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