Rio Government Declares State of 'Public Calamity' Ahead of 2016 Olympics

The economic turmoil in Brazil continues to wreak havoc on the upcoming Olympics, with the Rio de Janeiro government declaring a state of "public calamity" in a statement Friday (via Alan Gomez of USA Today).

Gomez noted the government warned "extreme economic measures would need to be implemented to successfully host the Olympic Games in August."

Per freelance journalist Bruce Douglas, the statement from the Rio government said, "The state will spare no efforts to optimize public administration."

Per Gomez, the release "did not specify" exactly what is necessary to make it economically viable for the Olympics to take place without interruption.

"It is for the competent authorities to adopt exceptional necessary measures to rationalize all public services, with the aim of realizing the [Olympic] Games," the statement said.

There have been many problems in Brazil leading up to the 2016 Olympic Games, including water pollution throughout the country; the Zika virus, which spreads largely from mosquitoes; and the financial collapse of the economy to go along with political corruption.

Gomez noted there have been protests by Brazilian citizens who feel the "estimated $10 billion" that is being spent to fund the Olympics would have been better used to build "hospitals, schools and emergency services instead."

John Lyons of the Wall Street Journal wrote in March that Brazil's economy "appears headed for one of its worst recessions ever."

"One in five young Brazilians is out of work. And Goldman Sachs says Brazil may be facing a depression," he added.

The country's president, Dilma Rousseff, has been suspended and had her presidential perks slashed following allegations of "breaking budget laws," per Anthony Boadle and Lisandra Paraguassu of Reuters.

The outcry for help from the Rio government comes with the Olympics less than two months away. The Games are set to begin August 5 and run through August 21.