As opening ceremonies flooded the televisions of people all over the world, many questioned the safety of some of the world's’ greatest athletes. There are some things that might be covered by the media or some things that you may not even know about that are really dangerous to our Olympic athletes! And here's some of the facts about it:
The first thing that most people already know about is the Zika virus. The virus has just recently reached the United States and is very dangerous for those who are pregnant or want to become pregnant. The biggest side effect of the disease causes many birth defects to the child. And the biggest fear of the virus is the possibility of a massive outbreak. Considering the games are an attraction for those all around the world, the outbreak could happen. It is known that people from all over the world are traveling to Rio to participate or just to watch and they all eventually have to return home. This is something that most media covers and most people know about, but the outbreak of it is completely unknown.
The next biggest problem is the water. It is not safe to drink, to swim in or to even be traveling in something on top of it. The open water is the most dangerous, which is where the events canoe sprint, marathon swimming, rowing, sailing and triathlon will all take place. What people don't know is that when Rio pledged as the home for the 2016 Olympics, they agreed to spend around $4 billion dollars to make sure their water wasn’t contaminated with raw sewage, waste and other bacterias. After calculations, in reality, their government has only spent about five percent of that number.
The scientists who have tested the water mentioned to all people that dare to go in the water that they should always keep their heads above the water because of the amounts of bacteria. The Olympic Committee has even recommended various types of protective gear for athletes who have to sacrifice their health just to compete in their event. I have also heard that equipment must be bleached and sanitized before even coming in contact with the water and should be cleaned directly afterwards for the safety of all people.
Also, our athletes aren’t being treated the right ways. They have been provided with rooms that haven’t met all the safety checks. The men's hockey team for India had to assemble their own tables and chairs for their rooms because they were not completed by administration before their arrival. Many rooms didn't contain any furniture at all. There have also been gas and water leaks and even power outages at many the residences.
In addition to the conditions, the overall safety of Rio is being questioned. Their police are amongst the most dangerous in the world as their police killing percent is up 10 percent from the previous year. The crime rates (using/dealing drugs, vandalism, assault, robbery, corruption and bribery) all are above 81 percent. As the Olympic celebrations dawned on Rio, these problems only became worse.
In conclusion, the Olympic setting could be a huge danger to athletes, administration and tourists. There are so many things wrong with this area that it makes the Olympics more of a health concern for the athletes. Many are shocked that Rio was even chosen as an Olympic holder. But despite these issues, everyone should enjoy the Olympics and support their country. There are many great events on and something to watch all the time!
