Organizers of the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro have eased concerns about venue delays in a meeting with leaders of 28 Summer Games sports. Christophe Dubi, the IOC's executive director of the Olympic Games, says venue issues for rowing, equestrian and cycling were aired at Tuesday's meeting in Lausanne. The talks followed $500 million cuts to balance Rio organizers' $1.8 billion operating budget. Rio organizing chief Carlos Nuzman was at the meeting. Dubi says finalizing venues is "the crux of the matter" for sports federations. Talks are ongoing with World Rowing "regarding the final setup" for spectators at Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon. Rio authorities are changing contractors working on equestrian and cycling arenas. The meeting was scheduled weeks before the spread of the Zika virus, linked to birth defects in Brazil, was declared an international emergency by the World Health Organization. (For more sports news andupdates, followAhramOnlineSportson Twitter at@AO_Sportsand onFacebookatAhramOnlineSports.) http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/186997.aspx