By Nick Butler

Thomas Bach will return to the continent where he was made IOC President when he travels to Brazil later this month ©Getty ImagesJanuary 7 - Rio 2016 has confirmed International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach will travel to Brazil to receive the latest updates on preparations for the Games.


In what will be his first visit to Brazil since taking over the IOC Presidency last September, Bach is due to meet the nation's President, Dilma Rousseff, on January 21 in the capital city Brasília, while he will also meet Games organisers and both state and local officials.

After the IOC expressed concerns about the pace of construction work last year, particularly for the main Olympic Park and a smaller venue area in north Rio de Janeiro, Bach is likely to cast a reminder that there is no time to waste in the months ahead. 

Dilma Rousseff will meet Thomas Bach in the Brazilian capital city of Brasília ©AFP/Getty ImagesDilma Rousseff will meet Thomas Bach in the Brazilian capital city of Brasília ©AFP/Getty Images

Rio 2016 has yet to announce an operating budget - although the cost is rumoured to be about $15 billion (£9 billion/€11 billion), while lagging local sponsorship sales and pollution in waters that will host Olympic events are other concerns.

This comes after Olympic sailors competing in Rio last year described Guanabara Bay - the venue for sailing at Rio 2016 - as "a sewer" and the filthiest body of water they had ever tried to navigate.

Olympic officials are worried that many of the problems surrounding this year's FIFA World Cup in Brazil will also plague the Games, which get underway in less than 1,000 days time.

This includes the possibility of protests, such as those seen during last year's Confederations Cup, over the billions being spent on the two events, as well as venues not being ready at the beginning of the year of the event. 

The announcement of Bach's visit comes in the same week FIFA President Sepp Blatter claimed no previous host country of a World Cup has been so far behind in its preparations, after six of the 12 stadiums due to hold matches failed to meet the December 31 deadline.

Protests ahead of last year's Confederations Cup have clouded preparations for the FIFA World Cup...the hope is that similar scenes will not occur ahead of Rio 2016 ©AFP/Getty ImagesProtests ahead of last year's Confederations Cup have clouded preparations for the FIFA World Cup...the hope is that similar scenes will not occur before Rio 2016 ©AFP/Getty Images

"The purpose is to ensure seamless cooperation between all stakeholders and to tell the Brazilian authorities the IOC is fully committed to the success of these Games," Bach said last month on the subject of Rio 2016.

"I want to make this statement in person to demonstrate that the new President is behind these Olympic Games.

"They have reported that there is good progress being made, that the Organising Committee is working well, and that on the other hand there is no time to lose. 

"It needs all the efforts of all the stakeholders, not only the Organising Committee but also the different levels of Government.

"The IOC is ready to ensure this seamless cooperation between all the stakeholders."