Spectators all over the world look forward to watching the Olympic Games. Hosting the Games is one of the biggest honors a city could have bestowed upon itself. Countries have “the desire to show pride in their city and their country, the eagerness to be in the international spotlight for two weeks, the opportunity to bring new jobs into the community, and to build up tourism to that city” (How Olympic Locations Are Chosen). The International Olympic Commission (IOC) picks the host from a series of cities that place bids to the Commission. They are judged on factors and investigated for the next ten months by the IOC. Problems like corruption, gang activity, and environmental concerns are weighed heavily during the evaluations.
The 2016 Summer Olympics will be hosted by Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Although they have been certified by the IOC, Rio is notorious for ecological problems. The CNN article “Rio 2016: Dead fish wash up in Olympic lagoon” by Marilia Brocchettois garnering opposition as to if Rio is ready for the task of hosting the Summer Games.
“Rio de Janeiro has pledged to reduce pollution in the notoriously fetid bay, but last month in an interview with the country’s largest sports channel SporTV, Mayor Eduardo Paes admitted that the bay will remain mostly polluted for the games.
With just over a year to go before the city hosts the Games’ rowing and canoe competitions, officials with the legislative assembly of Rio de Janeiro Monday launched an investigation into the causes of death both in the lagoon and in other lakes and bays in the state in which this phenomenon has occurred” (Brocchetto).
Water competitions like rowing and sailing are to be held in natural water sources like the bay or the rivers that feed into it. With problems of pollution and floating garbage, competitors could have unfair conditions when racing.
“The bay cleanup has been a sore spot in Rio’s fitful Olympic preparations almost since the city won the Games back in 2009. Environmentalists have consistently warned that even with the clock ticking, nearly nothing has been done” (Associated Press).
Scientists have been intrigued by the problems involving this bay for the past couple of years.
“Officials vowed to tackle the problem after the United Nations Earth Summit here in 1992 drew scrutiny of Rio’s foul waters. The Rio state government secured more than $1 billion in loans from Japan’s government and the Inter-American Development Bank for cleanup projects, but they have not been even remotely successful, according to environmental experts. The State Environmental Institute in Rio de Janeiro estimates that more than 10 percent of the trash here is not collected, much of it flowing into the bay through canals and degraded rivers.
Vast amounts of raw sewage leak into the waters. Officials set a goal of treating as much as 80 percent of it by the 2016 Olympics, but less than 40 percent is currently treated” (Romero, Clarey).
Scientists are concluding now that temperature changes in the water and decaying organic matter (not specific) would reduce oxygen in the water, ultimately killing the fish. The dying fish is an eyesore, gives off a horrible smell, and attracts other animals. In addition to the fish problem, the bay is filled with pollution and sewage.
Unfortunately to Brazilians, this is not a shocking fact. Natives know that their beaches, which is most of the travel appeal to the country, is filled with untreated sewage.
With less than two years until the torch is lit, Olympic hopefuls have flocked to the bay to get used to their surroundings. Practicing in the conditions that they will be competing in is crucial to Olympian success. “Nico Delle Karth, an Austrian sailor preparing for the 2016 Summer Olympics, said it was the foulest place he had ever trained” (Romero, Clarey). Delle Karth explained that items floated in the bay, as a pungent odor distracted him from sailing off.
Another sailor, Thomas Low-Beer, recounted his time on the bay to The New York Times:
“‘It can get really disgusting, with dog carcasses in some places and the water turning brown from sewage contamination,’ said Thomas Low-Beer, 24, a Brazilian Olympic hopeful who sails in the bay. He shuddered when recalling how his dinghy crashed into what he believed was a partly submerged sofa, capsizing him into the murky Guanabara” (Romero, Clarey).
Health risks like bacteria that grows from dead animals and bacteria from untreated sewage could be detrimental to sailors if they fall into the water or even make contact with an open wound. Floating debris could be hard to navigate around or even puncture the vessels. Plastic bags and wires can become entangled in the rudders of boats.
As the games steadily approach, Brazilians, Olympians, and spectators must ask of a certain standard for Brazil. Hosting the games is one of the most prestigious events that can happen to a country and be wonderful for their economy. Ecological structures must be standardized and maintained in order to provide the most success to competitors. Ecological structures should not be hazardous to the living organisms in the specific environment or the humans using it.
Works Cited
Associated Press. “Rio Admits It Will Fail to Clean up ‘open Sewer’ of 2016 Sailing Venue.” Http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/jan/23/rio-pledge-cut-pollution-official. The Guardian, 23 Jan. 2015. Web.
Associated Press. “Olympic Sailors Disgusted by Rio’s Foul Waters.” Inquirer.net. Inquirer.net, 8 Dec. 2013. Web.
Brocchetto. “Rio 2016: Dead Fish Wash up in Olympic Lagoon – CNN.com.” CNN. Cable News Network, n.d. Web. 21 Apr. 2015.
“How Olympic Locations Are Chosen | Go for the Gold Student Activity | Scholastic.com.” How Olympic Locations Are Chosen | Go for the Gold Student Activity | Scholastic.com. Scholastic, n.d. Web. 20 Apr. 2015.
Romero, Simon, and Christopher Clarey. “Note to Olympic Sailors: Don’t Fall in Rio’s Water.” The New York Times. The New York Times, 18 May 2014. Web. 21 Apr. 2015.