Fire damages Olympic velodrome roof in Rio de Janeiro

A fire damaged the roof of the velodrome at Rio de Janeiro's Olympic Park on Wednesday, though the venue's track remained unaffected, authorities said.

Firefighters were called at 04:17 local time. About 80 firefighters and 20 fire engines responded to battle the blaze, according to the state's military fire department. The flames began in an immersion room and spread to damage the roof structure covering both the velodrome and the Rio Museu Olímpico, which shares the same space.

No injuries were reported. The fire department controlled the blaze quickly, officials said.

Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Cavaliere said a preliminary assessment found "the track at the Olympic Velodrome was not damaged in any way." He added: "It remains intact and well-preserved. Obviously, it will need to be cleaned and undergo some form of maintenance before we can announce that the velodrome is back in operation."

Lt Col Fabio Contreiras told CNN Brazil that firefighters tackled the blaze both inside and outside the velodrome and worked to protect artefacts in the museum.

The velodrome hosted track cycling events during the 2016 Rio Olympics, where Great Britain won six Olympic and eight Paralympic gold medals. The venue currently houses the Olympic Museum, which features exhibits and artefacts from the Games, along with interactive experiences. The museum holds approximately one thousand pieces and plans rapid repairs to reopen.

The velodrome remains active with sporting activities, cultural events, and training sessions for high-performance athletes. Officials said there was no risk to the facility's continued operations pending repairs to the roof structure.