Rio Olympics Organisers Slash Budget Amid Economic Crisis

Rio Olympics 2016 organisers have outlined plans to slash spending by about 10 percent to prevent next year's quadrennial extravaganza from running over budget. (Read more sports stories here)

Brazil is in a deepening economic crisis as it grapples with rising unemployment, stagnant growth and soaring inflation, Xinhua reported. A Rio 2016 budget review has called for cuts of up to 30 percent in some departments of the organising committee.

"We need to organise the Games to be economically sustainable," Rio 2016 communications director Mario Andrada said. "There's no more space for lavish overspending."

The Rio 2016 organising committee's activities are privately funded but any costs that exceed its budget will be incurred by the government.

Andrada said cuts would be made by reducing printing, dispensing with backstage structures and limiting the number of volunteers.

The construction of permanent venues, security and power supply are part of a different budget that will not be impacted, Andrada said.

Organisers plan to finalize the new spending plan by next week.