Dive Brief:

• Construction of the Olympic and Paralympic Villages for the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro is halfway finished.

• Building began in July 2012 and is scheduled to finish in mid-2016. The Olympics begin on Aug. 5. Up to 8,000 workers will be involved with building the villages by the time they’re complete.

• Of the 31 buildings under construction, 17 are finished and the rest will be complete by the end the of the year, officials said. After the Olympics, the complex will be converted into residences.

Dive Insight:

In April, International Olympic Committee officials fended off rumors that they were looking for an alternative site outside of Brazil for the summer games because of construction delays that critics feared could be exacerbated by this year's World Cup and Brazil's presidential election.