LONDON (AP) — Organizers of the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics plan to keep the name of disgraced former FIFA President Joao Havelange on their main stadium.
Rio organizing committee chief executive Leo Gryner says Havelange is a “historical icon” of Brazilian sport, and is proud to be associated with him.
The Joao Havelange Olympic Stadium will host track and field at the next Summer Games.
The 96-year-old Havelange was identified last month for taking million-dollar kickbacks from World Cup television deals in the 1990s. He paid about $550,000 toward a 2010 Swiss court settlement to end criminal investigations into alleged embezzlement.
FIFA President Sepp Blatter has said Havelange “can’t remain honorary president” of soccer’s world governing body.
