Rio 2016 Olympics: With 100 days to go to the start of the Games — SunSport looks at how the venues are shaping up in Brazil’s most stunning City
EVERYONE said it would be shoddy, late and a mess — but to be fair, Rio de Janeiro is nearly ready to host the Olympic Games.
This Games will be different in almost every way to London 2012, with a smart use of new legacy venues as well as existing landmarks like the Maracana.
Blunders have arisen with the behind-schedule velodrome, pollution in Guanabara Bay and with construction of a metro system connecting the Olympic Park and the tourist hotspots in Copacabana.
Security could still be an issue, as it was in London four years ago.
But if there are a few things Rio has that Britain's capital will never have, it's sunshine, sea, sand and the original caipirinha.
Maracana — opening ceremony
IT hosted Germany’s World Cup final triumph over Argentina two years ago and now has a capacity of just under 79,000.
Iconic, massive and sprawling — the Maracana will host the opening ceremony.
Athletics — Joao Havelange Stadium
NAMED after one of the most controversial IOC chiefs in its history, this is where Mo Farah, Jess Ennis-Hill and Greg Rutherford will aim to retain their Olympic titles.
With a capacity of 60,000 — it will have the smallest athletics crowd for a generation.
Swimming, Water Polo — Olympic Aquatics Stadium
A NEW build for the Games — this smartly-constructed box will be taken apart after the party is over and made into four municipal pools dotted around Rio.
Expect Adam Peaty, James Guy and Jazz Carlin to be Britain’s biggest hopes here.
Diving, Water Polo, Synchonised Swimming — Maria Lenk Aquatics Centre
ONE of the central venues of the Olympic Park in Barra, the swimming venue is named after Maria Lenk, who was the first female Olympian from Brazil.
Tennis — Olympic Tennis Centre
ONE of the most beautiful venues on the Olympic Park in Barra, the Olympic Tennis Centre with a 10,000 capacity for Mario Esther Bueno Court.
There are four other courts to back up the main arena — and the court surfaces will be hard.
Will Andy Murray retain the title he won four years ago?
Track Cycling — Rio Olympic Velodrome
BESET with problems, the velodrome is where Bradley Wiggins will aim to go for gold in the men’s team pursuit and Laura Trott will aim to retain her omnium title.
There have been troubles with the mayor of Rio falling out with the construction workers and the Siberian Pine getting lost en-route to Brazil.
Then there was issues with getting a visa for the specialist who is laying the boards in the venue.
Handball — Future Arena
IT might not be the top of the Brit list of stadia to get tickets for, but the Future Arena is another smart legacy venue.
After the Games it will be used to create four schools around the city. Also looks like the Copper Box in London.
Gymnastics — Rio Olympic Arena
THE likes of Louis Smith, Daniel Purvis and Claudia Frangapane will go for gold here — an already existing venue.
It was originally constructed for the Pan American Games in 2007 and regularly hosts pop concerts.
Strangely, from the outside it looks a bit like Stoke City’s soon-to-be-renamed Britannia Stadium.
Boxing, Fencing, Judo, Taekwondo, Boxing, Wrestling, Basketball — Carioca Arenas 1, 2 & 3
THREE venues glued together — and all hosting different sports, this place will do the same job as London’s ExCeL did in 2012.
And they are three well-designed stadia, each getting slightly bigger.
Triathlon — Pontal
THIS will be where Team GB can aim for some big gold medal wins.
With Ali and Jonny Brownlee on the men’s side, as well as Non Stanford, Jodie Stimpson and Helen Jenkins on the women’s Britain will hope for a big win in Rio.
And what a place to take gold in.
Golf — Olympic Golf Course
IF the world’s best swingers can avoid alligator-like caiman and rodents bigger than dogs, then they deserve a medal just for firing 18 holes.
It’s golf’s modern debut at the Games and controversially or not, it will be watched by millions — and athletes in the Olympic Village just next door.
Rowing — Lagoa Stadium
THERE have been problems with water quality but the Lagoa looks simply stunning — the TV cameras will enjoy this one.
Hopefully, so will the Brit boats.
Field Hockey — Rio Hockey Centre
MUCH like London 2012, the Rio Hockey Centre will be a mostly temporary venue.
Canoe Slalom — Rio Whitewater Stadium
INSTEAD of keeping the residents of northern Rio in Deodoro our — the mayor of Rio insisted they open the doors and let local residents in for free.
Now locals can bask in the sunshine in a brand new Olympic venue and up to 15,000 Brazilians use it on weekends. Talk about a legacy.
Beach Volleyball, Cycling Road Race — Copacabana
THE iconic Copacabana beach is what springs to mind when you think of Rio's white sands.
And the Brazilians have a strong tradition of hosting beach volleyball on the surface, they built a massive arena for the 2007 Pan American Games on the same spot.