- Rio de Janeiro set to host 2016 Games
- IOC vice-president says situation on the ground is "critical"
- John Coates says state of preparation worse than Athens in 2004
- Brazil currently preparing to host 2014 World Cup
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(CNN) -- Brazil is waiting to welcome the world for the biggest football tournament on the planet -- but has it taken its eye off the greatest show on earth -- the Olympics?
The South American nation was shamed Tuesday after International Olympic Vice President John Coates claimed Rio de Janeiro's preparations for the 2016 Games was the "worst" he had ever witnessed.
Coates, who has been involved in the Olympics for nearly 40 years, has made six trips to Rio as part of the commission involved in ensuring the Brazilian city is ready to host the Games.
The Arena Castelao is the first stadium ready for the eight-nation Confederations Cup in June 2013. The competition, which is a dress rehearsal for the the 2014 World Cup, will bring together four former world champions. 
View of the Governador Magalhaes Pinto stadium during renovation works, in Belo Horizonte. The stadium will host both the Brazil 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup and the Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup. 
Picture of the famed Maracana football stadium in Rio de Janeiro as renovation works for the 2014 World Cup -- including the construction of a roof -- gets under way. The Maracana is classified as a historic monument so the facade will be maintained but a roof will be added to the five-storey oval stadium. 
Picture taken during the refurbishment works held at the Mario Filho 'Maracana' stadium in Rio de Janeiro. 
A huge inflatable Fuleco, the mascot of the Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup, stands by the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on January 15, 2013. 
A worker swings a hammer inside 'Arena Fonte Nova' stadium in Salvador de Bahia, Brazil on December 6, 2012 before next June's eight-nation Confederations Cup. 
A construction worker at the site of the Itaquerao football stadium which will host the opening football matches of the FIFA World Cup 2014 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. 
Brasilia's National Stadium under construction on December 13, 2012. The National Stadium will receive the first match of the eight-nation Confederations Cup matches on June 2013. 
A panel marks the exact place of the kick off for the next FIFA World Cup 2014. 
Former Brazilian footballer Ronaldo attends a press conference on November 29, 2012 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. 
The trophy of the FIFA World Cup 2014, brought to Brazil by former Brazilian football player Cafu from the FIFA headqueaters in Switzerland, is displayed at Morumbi shopping center in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on September 22, 2012. 
Police commandos from an anti-kidnapping unit, arrest and control a group of 'terrorists' during a drill at the Tom Jobim International Airport in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on January 13, 2012. 
People chant slogans during a protest against the demolition of the Celio de Barros track and field stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on January 13, 2013. The stadium needs to be demolished to carry out the Maracana stadium construction plans ahead of the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup, 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2016 Olympic games. 
The Rio 2016 Olympics logo is seen on a wall of the future Olympic Park in construction in Barra de Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on November 20, 2012. 
Carlos Arthur Nuzman (left), Brazilian Olympic Committee President and Rio 2016 Olympics Committee President, shakes hands with London 2012 Chief Executive Paul Deighton after delivering the IOC debriefing of the London 2012 Olympic Games for the foreign press in Barra de Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 
People hold a huge banner during a demonstration demanding that Brazilian President Dilma Roussef veto a bill that would redistribute oil royalties in favor of non-oil producing states. 
The construction site of the future Olympic village for the Rio 2016 Olympic games in Barra de Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on November 20, 2012, Brazil. 
Journalists are shown a virtual tour of the city organized by the Rio 2016 Committee on November 19, 2012 in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. 
Brazil prepares to host World Cup and Olympics 
Brazilian police detain a man during a violent protest in the Pavao-Pavaozinho community near Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday, April 22. Residents took to the streets after a young male dancer was found dead, state-run Agencia Brasil said. The residents told Brazilian media they blame the police for the death. 
A police officer points his weapon during the protests. 
A police officer patrols a street just blocks from Copacabana Beach. 
People walk past fires set by protesters on April 22. 
Police officers take positions during clashes with protesters. 
State military police stand in position during the protest. 
A special force police officer takes position during the protest. 
Residents run for cover during violent clashes between protesters and police. 
A police officer patrols the area among the smoke from burning barricades. 
A local stands next to a fire during the protest. 
Firefighters put out a burning barricade during clashes. Rio de Janeiro protests And while the World Cup, which starts on June 12 may take priority, Brazil's ability to juggle two huge events has been called into question.
"It's the worst that I've experienced," he said in a statement ahead of a press conference in Sydney, Australia, where he was being asked about preparations for 2016.
"We have become very concerned. They are not ready in many, many ways.
"We have to make it happen and that is the IOC approach. You can't walk away from this."
Coates revealed Tuesday that the IOC has taken "unprecedented" action by placing experts in the local organizing committee to ensure the Games go ahead.
But in a statement issued Tuesday, the Rio organizing committee insisted the city will host an "excellent Games that will be delivered absolutely within the agreed timelines and budget."
#Rio2016 response to "worst preps ever": Rio will host excellent Games, delivered absolutely within the agreed timelines and budgets
รข€" Shasta Darlington (@ShastaCNN) April 29, 2014The committee also cited the recent announcement of the budget for both infrastructure and legacy projects, as well as the tender process for Olympic Park venues, as signs of progress.
The statement added: "The time has now passed when general discussions about the progress of preparations contribute to the journey towards the Games.
"The work being undertaken in partnership with the three levels of government -- federal, state and city -- is delivering progress.
"The support of the International Olympic Committee is also crucial. We have a historic mission: to organize the first Olympic and Paralympic Games in Brazil and in South America. We are going to achieve this."
Ongoing concerns have prompted the IOC to agree to increase the frequency of visits -- led by Olympic Games executive director Gilbert Felli -- and establish dedicated task forces.
Rio organizers announced earlier this month that Brazil will spend 24.1 billion reais ($10.8 billion) on infrastructure projects to ensure the Games are delivered on time.
City mayor Eduardo Paes also stated that he was looking forward to Felli's visit saying that there was "no reason for concern" and that the "Olympic Park has nothing delayed."
But Coates says the delays in construction and the lack of information available means the current state in Rio is worse than that seen in Athens in 2004.
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Brazilian army patrolling Rio de Janeiro 
World Cup highlights prostitution crisis "The IOC has adopted a more hands-on role," said Coates.
"It is unprecedented for the IOC but there is no Plan B. We are going to Rio."
But in a statement sent to CNN late Tuesday, the IOC appeared to play down Coates' comments.
"Working together with our partners in Rio we have put in place a number of measures to support the Games," said the statement.
"Mr Felli has received a very positive response on the ground in the past few days, and a number of recent developments show that things are moving in the right direction.
"Now is a time to look forward to work together and to deliver great Games for Rio, Brazil and for the world, and not to engage in discussion of the past.
"We continue to believe that Rio is capable of providing outstanding Games."
Brazilian army occupies Rio shantytown ahead of World Cup
The lead up to the Athens Games 10 years ago was marred by construction delays and service delivery, but the venues and infrastructure were delivered on time.
Like Athens, Rio is experiencing similar problems.
The Games, which are being held in South America for the first time in its history, have been beset by delays, soaring costs and bad communication.
Coates has also voiced concerns that the IOC was unable to get the reassurances needed from the local organizing committee.
"No-one is able to give answers at the moment," he said.
"Can they use the car parks in the village for recovery centers? What will be the time to take from this venue to this venue?
"All of those things, they're being fobbed off."
Coates also claimed that only two people were working in Rio's test event department with tournaments scheduled to start this year.
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