This year marks one of the most famous worldwide events perhaps in all of history. Set to commence on August 5, the 2016 Summer Olympic Games will take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with 207 nations competing in over 300 different events. With anything this widely covered there is, of course, going to be controversy, but this year seems to be leading into some serious issues.
The Rio games will be the first ever held in a South American country, and many looked on with much excitement to the original announcement back in 2009, but as the Games draw more and more near, problems seem to be coming to light.
From the beginning there was worry that the city might not be able to protect the event from violence. Rio, itself, has seen much negative attention recently; in this month alone, a drug-resistant bacteria was detected off the beaches.
At some of the test events, participants left vomiting due to lack of proper cleanup and waste management. A severed foot even washed up onto one of the sporting venues. Many also worry that the world-wide gathering will become a breeding ground for the Zika virus as the fever began spreading throughout the country last year. Zika is contracted from mosquitoes, and though the staff has gone to great lengths in order to prevent the spread once the Olympics commence, some athletes have withdrawn from the competition due to health fears. Australian golfer Marc Leishman opted out stating, “We have consulted Audrey’s [his wife] physician and due to her ongoing recovery and potential risks associated with the transmission of the Zika virus, it was a difficult yet easy decision not to participate.” 
Leishman’s wife with battled toxic shock syndrome last year and is currently still recovering. Other athletes pulling out of the 2016 games officially because of the Zika threat include Fijian golfer Vijay Singh, U.S. cycler Tejay van Garderen and Irish golfer Rory McIlroy (No. 4 in the world.)
However, safety and sanitary threats are not the only lingering issues surrounding this year’s games. Over 10 countries are demanding Russia be barred from participation after a doping scandal. Allegations have risen that a state-funded drug system was implemented in the Sochi games after Grigory Rodchenkov, the anti-doping lab director for Russia, claimed he covered up the system two years ago at the 2014 Winter Olympic Games.
The validity of Rodchenkov is still under investigation, but the scandal has still stirred up much resentment for the Russian athletes participating this year.
But even with all these controversies, the Rio Olympics will still be taking place. With big names like Michael Phelps and Gabby Douglas hoping to return, there is much hype. Who will dominate? What records will be broken? These are all questions we have waited for four years to be answered.
Whether the Games are successful or not, on August 5, the entire world will be watching Rio.
