The Olympics are set to start on this Friday in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Many are anxiously awaiting for the athletes to take the stage. Rio is delighted to host the Olympics, however, Rio has posed many problems for the much-beloved event. Even so, the Olympics will carry out just as always.
The first problem presented from Rio was the new Zika virus. The virus has been declared a serious world health issue. This is especially because Zika is known to cause severe birth defects. Many top athletes decided to pull out from the event.
Jason Day is a top golfer and decided to not pursue the Olympics further due to concerns over the virus. Many other Olympians have stated concern for the virus. Some Olympians who are attending have taken extra care in their decision to go.
Though the health concern is prevalent, many Olympians are still deciding to go. The housing for the athletes are also not in great conditions. Some of the Olympic Village is habitable. Yet many problems have arisen which have caused complaints and safety hazards. Team Australia decided to move into a hotel due to the multiple problems with electricity, gas, and plumbing. Not to mention only about 12 of the 31 buildings have actually passed the set safety regulations. Though the village is set in a beautiful area.
One of the biggest issues surrounding the Olympic games is the water. The water in Rio is extremely polluted. A doctor was even quoted stating that the Olympic athletes “will literally be swimming in human crap.” Human feces are loaded with bacteria and a whole slue of other things which are harmful to the human body. The waters in Rio are basically made up of raw sewage.
Alongside the human waste sits tons of floating debris. This makes the waters difficult to be in for the athletes. Some of the Olympic sailors are trying to get used to all of the waste packed within the waters. Yet some good has come out of the situation. A new, modern sewage treatment plant was built. Though this is great news many of the Rio residents do not have access to appropriate sewage treatment.
The Olympians that are taking to the waters this Friday will try to keep their focus on success. Many who are out on the water wash their water clothes in a super powerful bacteria killing liquid. This helps to ensure the health and safety of Olympians. Doctors will also be on stand by at the even just in case complications arise. One wonders how swimmers will fair in such bacteria infested waters.
The water situation seems pretty bleak. The contents of the water seem to only get worse. Some extreme bacteria and diseases have been discovered infesting the waters. Yes, all of these problems seem to be extremely horrible. Yet one does have to remember the Olympics for what it is. Good competition amongst extremely talented people who are patriotically representing their countries.
Some of the Olympians want to shift the focus from the negatives to the positives. The Olympic rower Megan Kalmoe even stated that she was willing to row through the disgusting waters for her country. Each athlete is competing by their own choice. Therefore they have been notified of all the warnings and hazards that lie before them.
The Olympics takes extreme dedication from every athlete involved. They have spent a huge portion of their lives training for this one day. A day to make Olympics history. They are not going to allow poor water quality or housing issues stand in their way. They have endured before and they will endure again.
