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The Associated Press reports some disturbing data on the water quality in Rio De Janeiro, site of the 2016 Summer Olympics. Sewage treatment in Rio is in a sad state. There have been some half-assed efforts to build treatment plants, but they haven't kept pace with the city's rapid population growth, and most of the sewage just flows into rivers and streams untreated. The AP commissioned a study to measure bacteria and viruses in the outdoor water sport venues as well as some tourist beaches, and found dangerously high levels of pathogens in all of them.
Ivan Bulaja, the Croatian-born coach of Austria's 49er-class sailing team, has seen it firsthand. His sailors have lost valuable training days after falling ill with vomiting and diarrhea. "This is by far the worst water quality we've ever seen in our sailing careers," said Bulaja.
Training earlier this month in Guanabara Bay, Austrian sailor David Hussl said he and his teammates take precautions, washing their faces immediately with bottled water when they get splashed by waves and showering the minute they return to shore. And yet Hussl said he's fallen ill several times.
"I've had high temperatures and problems with my stomach," he said. "It's always one day completely in bed and then usually not sailing for two or three days." It is a huge risk for the athletes, the coach said.
"The Olympic medal is something that you live your life for," Bulaja said, "and it can really happen that just a few days before the competition you get ill and you're not able to perform at all."
Dr. Alberto Chebabo, who heads Rio's Infectious Diseases Society, said the raw sewage has led to "endemic" public health woes among Brazilians, primarily infectious diarrhea in children. By adolescence, he said, people in Rio have been so exposed to the viruses they build up antibodies. But foreign athletes and tourists won't have that protection.
(Score: 5, Interesting) by M. Baranczak on Friday July 31 2015, @05:04PM
A related bit of news from a few years ago... when Oslo was bidding to host the winter Olympics, the IOC sent them a long list of demands, which was then leaked to the press. It has to be seen to be believed. They had detailed specifications for the IOC offices that Oslo was supposed to provide, including special Olympic furniture. They wanted a welcoming ceremony at the airport for the IOC chief. Dedicated traffic lanes for IOC members. Schools and businesses were supposed to close on certain days in order to reduce traffic. They also demanded a cocktail party at which they could meet the King of Norway (at the king's expense, of course).
It makes me wonder - if Brazil can't provide basic services like sewage treatment, then what hope do they have of meeting the more esoteric requirements? I guess as long as they can afford to bribe the IOC, it doesn't matter.
Oslo, Stockholm, Lviv and Kraków all recently dropped their bids for the 2022 winter games. Lviv had a war going on, but the other three would have been perfectly capable of hosting. That left only Almaty and Beijing (Beijing just won). Expect this pattern to continue in the near future.
(Score: 2) by takyon on Friday July 31 2015, @05:53PM
Prof: Olympics are Overrated as an Economic Growth Engine [soylentnews.org]
Winter Olympics: What now for 2022 after Norway pulls out? [bbc.com]
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(Score: 2) by bob_super on Friday July 31 2015, @05:54PM
So you're redundantly repeating that it's normal to expect that during the big events (FIFA/IOC), the trademark owners asct as kings and rake in the dough, while the locals and athletes wade in shit?
(Score: 2) by takyon on Friday July 31 2015, @06:00PM
Only the athletes have to wade in shit.
The locals get to watch amid unfilled seats.
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(Score: 5, Interesting) by kadal on Friday July 31 2015, @06:01PM
I've always wondered why they don't build a Sports City somewhere and use that for all global competitions. That's right a city full of massive track and field stadiums, swimming pools, soccer fields etc. Seems worth the investment
(Score: 2) by danmars on Friday July 31 2015, @06:21PM
You mean basically have a sport version of Vatican City? Sounds like an interesting idea.
(Score: 5, Funny) by M. Baranczak on Friday July 31 2015, @06:26PM
(Score: 4, Insightful) by takyon on Friday July 31 2015, @06:54PM
The sports city will be located in Olympia, Greece. Reuse of buildings will create massive profits, solving the Greek debt crisis!
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(Score: 2) by bob_super on Friday July 31 2015, @09:32PM
Sorry for the Athens facilities, but it has been decided that Beijing was it. Winter and summer.
Proper government delivering on infrastructure and security, no major sponsor even dreaming of boycotting because of the massive domestic market, good reliable state banks for proper bribes...
Looking forward, India, the US and Europe might get every fifth Olympiad. But only if Beijing allows it.
(Score: 1) by nitehawk214 on Friday July 31 2015, @08:41PM
I believe China already did that.
"Don't you ever miss the days when you used to be nostalgic?" -Loiosh
(Score: 2) by CirclesInSand on Friday July 31 2015, @09:46PM
The only real competition in the Olympics is "how much money can we steal from poor tax payers". Seriously, if you built a city dedicated to sporting events, then how are you going to steal the pay check of the old lady bagging your groceries? I'm really not kidding.
Cities bidding their (often nonexistent) treasuries on private gaming organizations is evil as fuck. To hell with the self proclaimed "Olympics".
(Score: 2) by morgauxo on Friday July 31 2015, @06:31PM
It makes me wonder.. if the officials demand all that for themselves why wasn't clean water on their list? They should have 'demonstrated ability to provide safe place for athletes to compete' as #1 on the list!
(Score: 1) by nitehawk214 on Friday July 31 2015, @08:43PM
All the IOC cares about is money.
"Don't you ever miss the days when you used to be nostalgic?" -Loiosh
(Score: 3, Insightful) by goodie on Friday July 31 2015, @06:37PM
And Beijing just won today actually. Funny thing is that Almaty is close to high, beautiful mountains, has actual winter olympic training facilities etc. In other words, it actually made more sense (to me at least, especially having been to Almaty several times). Don't get me wrong. That place is rampant with corruption and a host of other issues (pollution, poverty etc.). But I don't think that Beijing won because of the features they have for winter games hosting. I'm no expert in geography but where the heck will they host the ski events? Are they going to displace thousands and run truck after truck of snow? Make no sense to me.
I'm just glad Oslo pulled out when they revealed those demands. The outrageous part is that none of the other candidates removed their candidacy and together demanded that the IOC be cleaned up before any further bidding would occur. one can only wish *sigh*.