Rio's Olympic Park reaches 99% completion

A man works at the Arena Carioca 3 at the 2016 Rio Olympics Park in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 15, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

RIO DE JANEIRO - Construction work on Rio's Olympic Park has reached 99% completion as the city finalizes preparations for the first Olympic Games in South America.

Five of the nine venues at the park are ready: Arena Carioca 1 (basketball), Arena Carioca 2 (judo, wrestling), Arena Carioca 3 (taekwondo, fencing), Future Arena (handball) and the aquatic centre (swimming), Rio's city government said in a statement.

The announcement comes just six days before Rio begins its one-month countdown until the Olympic opening ceremony at the Maracana stadium.

Despite the advanced stage of construction at most venues, laborers are still completing work on the velodrome, a warmup pool at the Maria Lenk Aquatic center, two tennis courts and access ramps at Olympic Arena.

Media facilities and the Olympic Park hotel are ready.

A joint venture between the public and private sectors, Olympic Park has been built at a cost of 2.3 billion reais (around 710 million US dollars).

The Olympic Games will be staged from August 5 to 21. They will be followed by the Paralympic Games from September 7 to 18.