“I am optimistic about the games, but I have to show the reality. We can make a great Olympics, but if some steps are not taken, it can be a big failure,” Francisco Dornelles, the acting governor of the state of Rio de Janeiro, told Brazil’s O Globo newspaper, per CNN.
Rio has been battling a slew of problems in the lead-up to the Summer Olympics that begin Aug. 5, including Zika fears, pollution, safety concerns, doping scandals and financial and political turmoil.
Dornelles, 81, did not downplay the significance of the obstacles during the frank interview. The longtime politician was thrust into the limelight after Rio Governor Luiz Fernando Pezao took a medical leave earlier this year after he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
“I’d already decided to end my political career,” he also told the Brazilian newspaper, per USA Today, adding he’d only accepted the offer to become Pezao’s running mate because he thought he’d only have to take over “from time to time.”
“And suddenly this bomb fell into my hands,” he said.
RELATED VIDEO: Rio Olympics Plagued by Host of Issues
When asked about the state’s financial crisis, he also reportedly said “for me, it’s been a mess.”
Dornelles also reportedly said during the interview that the state is still waiting on a crucial $860 million payout from the federal government, and warned that police patrols could halt by the end of the week due to lack of gas money.
“How are people going to feel protected in a city without security,” he reportedly said.
Dornelles’ comments come the same week the U.S. is warning citizens planning to travel to Rio for the Olympics to be on alert for cyber criminals.
The country is launching the “Know the Risk; Raise Your Shield” campaign this week to encourage Americans to carry “clean” devices that are free of data that could contain important security or financial details.
Bill Evanina, the nation’s chief counter-intelligence executive, told USA Today that events such as the Olympics are a “great playground” for cyber criminals because of the “sheer number of devices.”
He advises leaving unnecessary devices at home, backing up data and leaving it in a secure location back home, changing passwords often and avoiding prolonged sessions on local Wi-Fi networks.
“When you travel abroad, assume that your personal information will be breached,” he said.
