By Duncan Mackay in Copenhagen

September 29 - Rio de Janeiro officials tonight insisted that the cancellation of a World Cup swimming event scheduled to be held there next month because of the lack of finance will not harm their bid to host the 2016 Olympics. 


The decision to scrap the short course event was made more than two weeks ago but has only just been announced, just four days before the International Olympic Committee (IOC) holds its Session to vote on which city should follow London 2012.

Cornel Marculescu, the executive director of world swimming governing body FINA, said: "There are no financial resources.

"They cannot find any funding.

"They say they cannot do it."

The World Cup page on FINA's Web site has a line crossing out the Rio meet, with the word "canceled" printed twice.

Marculescu said Rio informed FINA of the decision "two or three weeks ago," adding that the Brazilian city has also pulled out of hosting World Cup events from 2010-13.

Marculescu refused to speculate if the cancellations would have any effect on the IOC vote but did praise Rio's proposed plans for the aquatics events if they are chosen to host the 2016 Games.

He said: "I only know about my own sport, and there will be no World Cup in Rio for the next four years.

"The Olympic Games is a different budget.

"Rio's proposals for aquatics venues are very good."

The move is also surprising because of interest generated after Cesar Cielo swept the 50 and 100 metres freestyle events in Rome earlier this year for Brazil's first gold medals in 27 years at a World Championship.

A spokeswoman for Rio 2016 told insidethegames that the decision would not affect the city's Olympic chances.

She said: "Rio's financial plans are guaranteed and solid and have been praised by the International Olympic Committee's Evaluation Commission report."

Belo Horizonte has hosted a World Cup event for the last several years, but the Brazilian federation wanted to move the meet to Rio to attract a better international field.

Marculescu said: "Belo Horizonte is difficult to get to.

"You have to change planes in Rio or Sao Paulo."

Without Rio, only five World Cup events will be held this year - in Durban, Moscow, Stockholm, Berlin and Singapore.

From 2010-2013 there will be seven short-course meets, he current five and at sites to be announced in China and Japan.

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