Rio 2016 to stage rugby sevens competition at Vasco da Gama stadium

VASCO da Gama's football stadium will play host to the inaugural rugby sevens Olympic competition at Rio 2016 as organisers shun the chance to stage it at the world famous Maracana.

GETTING THE NOD: Vasco da Gama's stadium will play host to the inaugural Olympic rugby sevens tournament at Rio 2016

The Brazilian Olympic Committee says Sao Januario Stadium will be renovated to accommodate rugby, which will be returning to the Olympics for the first time since 1924.

Rio 2016 committee president Carlos Arthur Nuzman says there is no timetable for the renovation to start.

When rugby sevens was added to the Olympic programme last October - shortly after Rio were awarded the 2016 Games - organisers set about investigating staging the competition at the 90,000 capacity Maracana. The stadium is already at the centre of Rio's bid and will stage the opening and closing ceremonies and football finals.

Officials had considered fitting a three-day sevens competition into the schedule, especially as athletics events will be held elsewhere at the Joao Havelange Stadium.

But with the Maracana currently experiencing difficulties with renovations to the tune of $390m required to prepare it for the 2014 World Cup, organisers have nailed their colours to the mast and opted for the Sao Januario Stadium, which currently has a capacity of a shade of 15,000.