Brazil hopes ‘all countries’ will be in Rio

The Rio 2016 Olympics logo is seen on a wall of the future Olympic Park in construction in Barra de Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. AFP FILE PHOTO

Brazil said it hopes that “all countries” will take part at next month’s Rio Olympics, after a report revealed rampant Russian state-run doping at the 2014 Sochi Winter Games and other major sporting events.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) subsequently called for all Russian competitors and officials to be banned from the Rio Olympics after a probe for WADA found the FSB secret service helped “the state-dictated failsafe system”.

“I hope that all countries and athletes will be present, the Brazilian government hopes that all will be present,” said Brazilian sports minister Leonardo Picciani.

“Obviously, sport has its rules that must be respected,” he added, saying ultimately it was up to the various sports’ governing bodies and WADA to make a decision on each country’s inclusion.

Russia’s track and field team has already been barred from Rio.