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 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!
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(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".