Rio’s unsafe Olympic Park ordered closed by Brazilian judge

(FILES) File photo taken on August 09, 2016 of a general view of the Olympic Park during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. – Authorities ordered on January 15, 2020 all facilities built for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games be closed within 48 hours until security certificates are presented. (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS / AFP)

SAO PAULO — A Brazilian judge has ordered the closing of Rio de Janeiro’s Olympic Park in the next 48 hours due to a lack of safety licenses.

Judge Eugenio Rosa de Araújo said in his ruling published late Wednesday that Rio’s city hall has not provided safety assurances for the Olympic Park to hold public events.

The Olympic Park of the 2016 Games has staged music festivals and e-sports tournaments, among other events.

According to the judge, who followed suggestions by local prosecutors in his decision, the area is “progressively battered by the lack of care” and “ready for tragedies.”

Rio’s city hall has not responded immediately to a request for comment by The Associated Press.