--- description: The state government in Rio de Janeiro declared a financial “state of public calamity" on Friday, weeks before the Olympic Games begin title: Rio Declares Financial 'State of Public Calamity' Ahead of Olympics image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde1de27534204210/6988987a524fc07cc0df86d9/rio-de-janeiro1.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [World](/section/world/) ## World Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [brazil](/tag/brazil/) ## brazil Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Rio de Janeiro Declares Financial 'State of Public Calamity' Ahead of Olympics  by [Katie Reilly](/author/katie-reilly/)  ## Katie Reilly Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Jun 18, 2016 6:08 PM CUT  The Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in Oct. 2015. The Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in Oct. 2015.David J. Phillip—AP  by [Katie Reilly](/author/katie-reilly/)  ## Katie Reilly Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Jun 18, 2016 6:08 PM CUT The [state government in Rio de Janeiro](http://time.com/4172821/rio-olympics-financial-crisis/ "undefined") declared a “state of public calamity in financial administration” on Friday, weeks before the Summer Olympic Games begin in the city. In an official decree on Friday, officials warned that the financial situation could negatively impact the city’s ability to meet all commitments associated with hosting the games, the [Washington _Post_ reported](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/rio-state-declares-state-of-calamity-weeks-before-olympics/2016/06/17/5bd65b78-34d8-11e6-8758-d58e76e11b12%5Fstory.html "undefined"). Brazil currently faces several challenges, including the spreading [Zika epidemic](http://time.com/4350762/health-doctors-zika-rio-de-janeiro-olympics/ "undefined"), an [economic recession](http://time.com/4172821/rio-olympics-financial-crisis/ "undefined") and the impeachment trial of [suspended President Dilma Rousseff](http://time.com/4361090/brazil-dilma-rousseff-michel-temer-impeachment/ "undefined"). The decree on Friday warned that the worsening crisis could cause a “total collapse in public security, health, education, transport and environmental management,” the _Post_ reported. **Read more:** [Brazilian Sports Minister Says Rio Is Ready for the Olympics](http://time.com/4359344/brazil-leonardo-picciani-rio-de-janeiro-olympics/ "undefined") But Mário Andrada, executive director of communications for Rio 2016, said the Olympics would not be impacted, according to the _Post_. “We knew since last year that the financial state of Rio state was critical,” Andrada said. “We work with them every single day. They have fulfilled all their obligations for the Games. They created a state law for tax breaks that we were able to use.” The Olympic Games will begin on Aug. 5. \[[The Washington _Post_](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/rio-state-declares-state-of-calamity-weeks-before-olympics/2016/06/17/5bd65b78-34d8-11e6-8758-d58e76e11b12%5Fstory.html "undefined")\] ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4374128/rio-de-janeiro-declares-financial-state-of-public-calamity-ahead-of-olympics/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4374128/rio-de-janeiro-declares-financial-state-of-public-calamity-ahead-of-olympics/"},"headline":"Rio de Janeiro Declares Financial 'State of Public Calamity' Ahead of Olympics","datePublished":"2016-06-18T18:08:34.000Z","dateModified":"2026-02-22T22:41:56.184Z","description":"The government issued a warning decree on Friday","url":"https://time.com/4374128/rio-de-janeiro-declares-financial-state-of-public-calamity-ahead-of-olympics/","keywords":["brazil","olympics"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde1de27534204210/6988987a524fc07cc0df86d9/rio-de-janeiro1.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Katie Reilly","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/katie-reilly/"}],"articleSection":"World","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde1de27534204210/6988987a524fc07cc0df86d9/rio-de-janeiro1.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"Rio de Janeiro, Olympics, Christ the Redeemer, Christo Redentor","caption":"Rio de Janeiro, Olympics, Christ the Redeemer, Christo Redentor","creditText":"David J. 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