Brazilian police raid Olympic Committee president's home in Rio 2016 Olympics corruption investigation

Brazilian federal police are investigating a suspected international vote-buying scheme

Jack de Menezes

Tuesday 05 September 2017 13:27 BST

Carlos Arthur Nuzman, president of the BOC, had his home raided by federal police (Getty)

Support truly
independent journalism

Our mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth.

Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.

Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.

Louise Thomas

Louise Thomas

Editor

Brazilian police have raided the head of the Brazil’s Olympic committee’s home over allegations that the vote to award the 2016 Summer Olympic Games to Rio de Janeiro was rigged.

Carlos Arthur Nuzman, the president of the Brazilian Olympic Committee [BOC] and a member of the International Olympic Committee [IOC], was one of the targets in a series of raids as police served two arrest warrants, conducted searches and seized evidence following allegations of an international vote-buying scheme.

It’s alleged that votes in Africa were bought before the 2009 vote, in which Rio was awarded hosting rights over Madrid by a result of 66-32.

A spokesman for the Rio Olympics declined to comment on Tuesday, while the IOC confirmed that they are attempting to make contact with officials in Brazil regarding the federal investigation.

“The IOC has learned about these circumstances from the media and is making every effort to get the full information,” an IOC spokesman read.

“It is in the highest interests of the IOC to get clarification on this matter.”

The IOC has previously announced that it is investigating claims of corruption over how Rio won the 2016 Games. In March 2016, a French newspaper report accuses Brazilian businessmen of making a payment to Papa Massata Diack, son of former International Association of Athletics Federations president Lamine Diack, three days before the vote.

Rio Olympic venues 6 months on

Show all 14

1/14Rio Olympic venues 6 months on

Rio Olympic venues 6 months on

The inside of Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – The stadium was renovated for the 2014 World Cup at a cost of about $500 million, and largely abandoned after the Olympics and Paralympics, then hit by vandals who ripped out thousands of seats and stole televisions

AP

Rio Olympic venues 6 months on

A trash can lays by ripped seats at one of the dugouts in Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – "The Maracana is the biggest symbol of the way the games were managed," said Mauricio Santoro, a political scientist at Rio de Janeiro State University. "The vast majority of people in Rio will never go the golf course, or the Olympic venues. But the Maracana is different. It's the jewel of the crown."

AP

Rio Olympic venues 6 months on

Stadium operators, the Rio state government, and Olympic organizers have fought over $1 million in unpaid electricity bills and management of the venu

AP

Rio Olympic venues 6 months on

The demolished remains of the former Rio Media Center, constructed to host some visiting media for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games – The temporary structure was demolished two months ago following the Olympics but much of the rubble has yet to be cleared away. The hazardous rubble, which provides potential mosquito breeding grounds, is located downtown beside city hall, a convention center, and a day care center. Rio de Janeiro's state government is in the midst of a deep financial crisis

Getty

Rio Olympic venues 6 months on

Nobs are left where seats were ripped out at Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. "During the Olympics the city was really trying hard to keep things together," said Oliver Stuenkel, a Brazilian who teaches international relations at the Getulio Vargas Foundation, a Brazilian university. "But the minute the Olympics were over, the whole thing disintegrated."

AP

Rio Olympic venues 6 months on

Seats jumbled into a pile inside the Maracana stadium

AP

Rio Olympic venues 6 months on

A woman walks past Olympic rings covered with a canvas at Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

AP

Rio Olympic venues 6 months on

An aerial view shows the Olympic Aquatics Stadium

AP

Rio Olympic venues 6 months on

An aerial view of Maracana Stadium, which was used for the Opening and Closing ceremonies of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, shows the turf being dry, worn and filled with ruts and holes, in Rio de Janeiro,

AP

Rio Olympic venues 6 months on

An aerial view shows the Olympic park

Reuters

Rio Olympic venues 6 months on

A view of the Olympic Aquatics Stadium, which was used for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, is seen in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Reuters

Rio Olympic venues 6 months on

A woman carries a baby in front of the Deodoro Sports Complex, which was used for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The clapboard reads: " We are in recess for maintenance of the pool, we will return in January. Merry Christmas and Happy new year"

Reuters

Rio Olympic venues 6 months on

The Olympic Aquatics Stadium has become dilapidated

Reuters

Rio Olympic venues 6 months on

Media pamphlets sit among the demolished remains of the former Rio Media Center

Getty

French newspaper Le Monde said a company linked to Brazilian businessman Arthur Cesar de Menezes Soares Filho paid $1.5m to Papa Massata Diack, who has since been given a lifetime ban from sport due to his role in covering up Russian athlete Valentin Balakhnichev’s positive doping test and blackmailing her for it. He denies any wrongdoing regarding the matter.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies