Rio State Govt. Say 'Serious Economic Crisis' Could Prevent It From Hosting Summer Olympics

Rio de Janeiro’s acting governor, Francisco Dornelles, declared a state of financial disaster Friday, with the Olympics less than 50 days away.

In a statement, Dornelles announced that "serious economic crisis" threatens to prevent the large seaside city from following through on its commitment to host the Games, the BBC reported.

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff (C) shakes hands with Rio de Janeiro's Vice-Governor Francisco Dornelles (L) as Brazil's Minister of Health Marcelo Castro looks on before the inauguration ceremony of the Olympic Aquatics Stadium in the Olympic Park in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on April 8, 2016. (Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP/Getty Images)

The statement notes that the “public calamity” affecting the state’s public health and security services emerges from a fall in revenues from taxes and oil production. Dornelles claims this this is “stopping the state of Rio de Janeiro from honoring its commitment to the organization of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.”

The BBC reported that public funding for the Olympics has come from Rio's city government, but the state is responsible for footing the bill for transportation and policing.

Brazil as a whole has been dealing with a severe economic recession. Dornelles’ declaration could expedite the release of federal emergency funds.

A shopper walks beneath a Brazilian flag in the Saara discount shopping district on April 5, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Brazil is in the midst of what is expected to be its worst recession in 100 years along with a major political crisis ahead of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

The interim governor noted that “exceptional measures" will be taken ahead of the Games that could affect "all essential public services", but offered no further details.

The country’s Interim President Michel Temer has already promised financial aid.

Rio's mayor Eduardo Paes assured on Twitter (in Portuguese) that the state's announcement "in no way delays the delivery of Olympic projects and the promises assumed by the city of Rio.”

O estado de calamidade decretado pelo Governo Estadual em nada atrasa as entregas olímpicas e os compromissos assumidos pelo Rio.

— Eduardo Paes (@eduardopaes_) June 17, 2016

Rio expects a turnout of about 500,000 foreign visitors during this year’s Olympic Games, which are to be held Aug. 5 through 21.