Members of the Austrailian Olympic swim team have requested that officials in Rio do something about the state of the aquatics facilities if they are to swim there.
Assistant coach of the Dolphin’s swim team Michael Bohl pulled his team from the pool they were practicing in after becoming concerned about what might be lurking in the pool’s murky waters. They moved to the overcrowded main competition pool instead.
“Rather than risk eye, ear, or any other infection we brought them in here,” said Bohl.
The Austrailian team has been full of complaints so far, most of which seem valid. Upon their arrival team boss Kitty Chiller said that the living area was uninhabitable due to some plumbing issues and had the team moved elsewhere.
Bohl at one point compared the athletes village to a campsite, stating that the hot water is never constant and seems to be flooding around in certain rooms.
With more than 500,000 people coming to Rio for the olympics the city attempted to get itself together but it seems that all efforts to clean the water have failed. The water surrounding Rio’s beaches contains raw sewage, garbage, and even the occasional dead body!
Last week olympians who would be competing in aquatic events were warned to keep their mouths closed while submerged by a number of doctors and other medical experts.
The idea that just keeping one’s mouth closed can prevent infection from the disease ridden waters seems a bit ridiculous. If it’s gotten to the point that warnings like this are being issued at all, then maybe it’s time to reconsider entering the water at all.
Numerous athletes have chosen not to attend the games in Rio due to health concerns, mainly about the Zika virus. It does seem a bit counterinuitive to send people from all over the world to Rio, where the virus has become fairly promiment, then have them return to their country of origen.
Some scientists argue that the Zika virus will spread regardless, but this particular strain in Brazil will now be given a huge opportunity to make its way around the world.