As the 2016 Olympic Games swiftly approach, a growing concern for the safety -in Rio de Janeiro has erupted. The primary issue revolves around the water conditions of the open swimming event venues. Nonetheless, other problems such as the rapidly increasing crime rate, lack of infrastructure, and social unrest also contribute to the hazard of Brazil hosting the games.
Investigations into the quality of Rio’s water exposed some concerning information for many. Data revealed that the water contains hazardously high levels of viruses and bacteria. This, however, might be unsurprising due to the amount of human and household waste, dead animals and other excess garbage polluting the future Olympic water sports location. This inevitably poses a serious health risk for competitors in sports such as rowing, sailing, and windsurfing.
Guanabara Bay, the host site for sailing and open water swimming events, and also home of Rodrigo de Freitas Lake (hosting rowing and canoeing events) is particularly of alarm. The concentration levels of pollution within the Bay will arguably be impossible to eliminate by June 2016. Brazilian authorities have ensured that the Bay will be nearly eighty percent clean by the time the games roll around; conversely, Brazil’s lack of progress within the past five months shows otherwise, according to investigators.
“I feel like Brazil is not an adequately fit environment to maximize success for our world's athletes,” NHS sophomore Sarah Houle said.
This all became evident during the World Junior Rowing Championships hosted by Rio de Janeiro as a trial for the next Summer Olympics. After the competition, thirteen athletes suffered illnesses causing diarrhea and nausea. People placed the blame on the water quality for these violent sicknesses, but Brazilian organizers quickly denied this.
“There is absolutely no evidence to link the water quality and the illnesses,” Philip Wilkinson, a spokesman for the Rio 2016 organizing committee stated, according to News.com.au.
Pollution, however, is not the only problem Brazil struggles with in the lead up to the Olympics. Hosting the Olympics requires building new infrastructure such as event venues and lines of transportation. A metro line being constructed to connect the center of Rio to the Olympic Park is currently running behind schedule. There is a concern that the city’s velodrome, tennis center and aquatic park may not be finished on time and currently lurks over the heads of the International Olympic Committee.
The new construction needed for the future Olympic Games has also placed a heavy hurting within Brazilian citizens. In order for more infrastructure to be built, homes on the outskirts of the city, referred to as favelas, have been destroyed. Approximately 8000 families have been kicked out of their homes. Many people have been sitting out on the streets protesting the games. For an event that is supposed to bring all nations together, a large toll has been taken on the intimacy of Brazil, specifically Rio de Janeiro.
“Well I think it's obvious that Brazil was not the right choice for the Olympics. It seems that when one problem is fixed, another is caused. For example in order for the infrastructure to be built they have to destroy homes,” NHS junior Scott Bauer said.
The crime rate is certainly a fear that the Olympic organizers battle with. For a city experiencing at least three murders a day, and the worst level of street robberies since 1995, it became vital for the organizers to deploy 85,000 security forces in Rio, double the amount of forces that were at the London Olympics in 2012. The increasing crime rate has also poorly affected the city’s tourist attraction rate, which Brazil is hoping to change.
“Brazil is clearly in distress because of everything going on involving the Olympics. Even though the summer is soon and changing the host country is probably impossible, a different location might be necessary,” Houle said.
Houle, however, is not the only student who feels this way.
“It seems pointless to take action to fix these problems since one solution simply causes another problem. I feel the best course of action is to change the location of the Olympics” Bauer said.
Despite the evident challenges that Rio de Janeiro must overcome, many nations are looking forward to the Olympic Games that remain just a few short months away.
Image Courtesy of astanatimes.com