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The Roar

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Rio Olympics rugby venue closed

Cameron Clark in action for the Australian Rugby Sevens side against South Africa in the Rio Olympics. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch)
10th January, 2017
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Almost five months after the Rio de Janeiro Olympics ended, the stadium that provided the setting for Australia’s gold medal triumph in the women’s rugby sevens, is struggling to find a use.

Rio de Janeiro’s city hall said Tuesday that the Deodoro Olympic Park, which was to be used as a park and recreation area after the games, has been closed.

Deodoro was the second-largest venue cluster during the Olympics and is located in Rio’s impoverished north.

Australia defeated New Zealand 24-17 in the temporary stadium which had a 15,000 capacity.

The city government said a contract had been terminated with a company operating the park.

The statement said “measures are being taken” to reopen the park. The city did not say when that would happen.

Last month, Rio de Janeiro handed over responsibility to the federal government for sports venues in the main Olympic Park after a failed bid to auction them.

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