Top Rio Games official Marcio Fortes quits

Rio de Janeiro: The Brazilian government has confirmed the resignation of one of the top officials of the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games.

Olympic Public Authority (APO) president Marcio Fortes was officially relieved of his duties Thursday after submitting his resignation earlier in the week, according to a notice published by federal gazette Diario Oficial da Uniao, reports Xinhua. APO is in charge of coordinating federal, state and local government planning for the Games. Brazilian media reported Fortes had become disillusioned by his reduced influence prompted by the federal government`s creation of the executive Olympic group (Geolimpiada) - to which APO had become a subordinate. Fortes, who did not comment on his decision, had previously been a minister in the government of former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. IANS