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IT'S FALLING APART!

Crisis-hit Rio Olympics thrown into yet more chaos as sailing ramp COLLAPSES days before Games begin

THE Rio Olympics have hit yet more choppy waters - after part of the sailing venue fell into the sea.

A jetty used to launch boats was badly damaged by waves on Saturday.

And with the Games' opening ceremony just days away, organisers warned it will be repaired with just hours to spare.

The ramp collapsed into the sea after heavy storms on the coast of Rio de Janeiro
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The ramp collapsed into the sea after heavy storms on the coast of Rio de JaneiroCredit: Reuters
The damage comes just days before the Olympic opening ceremony on Friday
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The damage comes just days before the Olympic opening ceremony on FridayCredit: Getty Images
Engineers will now face a race against time to have to venue ready for the first sailing event next Monday
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Engineers will now face a race against time to have to venue ready for the first sailing event next MondayCredit: Reuters
Olympic sailors have already begun preparing for competition around the venue
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Olympic sailors have already begun preparing for competition around the venueCredit: Getty Images

The giant blue ramp lies half-submerged in the sea with mangled metal visible as a crane lifts it from the water.

International Olympic Committee spokesman Daniel Santiago insisted: "It won't affect training, or competition.

"They've got a 25-person team working on it at the moment. The delivery promise is Friday."

The sailing competition - which will see 15 Brits battling for gold - hits the water next Monday.

The accident at Marina de Gloria is the latest problem to beset Brazil's first Olympics.

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In a race to finish the Olympic Park some of the first nations to arrive suggested the athletes' village is not up to scratch.

Belarus athletes tweeted pictures of their rooms covered in dirt with unwashed duvets.

While a fire in the basement of the Australian federation's accommodation saw Aussie stars forced to evacuate the village on Friday night.

Brazilian firefighters were even accused of nicking kit from the evacuated rooms, with a laptop amongst the valuables missing.

Olympic teams have been greeted with filthy and unfinished accommodation when they arrived in Rio
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Olympic teams have been greeted with filthy and unfinished accommodation when they arrived in RioCredit: Belarus Olympic Committee
Belarus' Olympic Committee arrive at the Rio Olympic village which appears to be unfinished and uncomfortable living conditions
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Belarus' Olympic Committee arrive at the Rio Olympic village which appears to be unfinished and uncomfortable living conditions

The mosquito-borne Zika epidemic has overshadowed the Games, with Northern Ireland golf superstar Rory McIlroy citing it as the reason behind his absence.

And The Sun exclusively revealed yesterday how Brazilian officials have drafted in UN security experts over fears terror group ISIS could attack the Games with a dirty bomb.

More than 10,500 athletes are expected at the two-week sporting extravaganza as Rio becomes the first South American city to host a Games.

Brazil has asked for UN expertise to ensure the Games security is tight with millions set to descend on the city
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Brazil has asked for UN expertise to ensure the Games security is tight with millions set to descend on the cityCredit: AAP
A body was seen floating in the water yards from where athletes will be competing next week
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A body was seen floating in the water yards from where athletes will be competing next weekCredit: Lalo de Almeida / The New York Times / Redux / eyevine

Among those nations competing for the first time is South Sudan.

But Olympic powerhouses Russia will be severely depleted after an IOC ruling decided those with previous doping bans should be excluded from the Games.

That came after revelations about a state-sponsored doping programme in Russia that saw dozens of athletes win medals while using performance-enhancing drugs.

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