Rio, 8/6/2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Rio de Janeiro is going to have to speed up the depollution of Guanabara Bay in order to increase the city's chances of being selected to host the 2012 Olympic Games. The host city will be announced in 2005, so the work must get underway quickly.

The problem with pollution in the bay was pointed out by the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA), which reports that the work is two year's behind schedule. JICA has recommended that Rio, the Japan Bank and the Interamerican Development Bank join forces to do the job. (AB)