We Need To Talk About What's Happening In Rio
Start writing a post
Sports

We Need To Talk About What's Happening In Rio

Would you want to compete in these conditions?

12
We Need To Talk About What's Happening In Rio
CBS Sports

Personally, I've never cared that much about the Olympics. Of course I hope my country brings home the gold just like everybody else, but I would rather watch "Grey's Anatomy" than people from different countries competing in sports that I could never do due to my Taco Bell addiction.

When I heard about all of the crazy things happening in Rio, my girly shows were off and the news channel was on.

Rio was announced as the host for the 2016 Summer Olympic games seven years ago by the International Olympic Committee. Obviously, a lot can change in seven years, and it has. Rio went from having one of the fastest growing economies in the world to having an unemployment rate of almost 11 percent.

As if the economic crisis wasn't bad enough, there are numerous amounts of problems that make Rio an unsafe place for not only it's own citizens but for the Olympic athletes traveling there. Zika Virus, increased police brutality, and water/air pollution are all problems that our athletes will have to worry about during this years Summer games.

Common safety of this years Olympic athletes is a huge concern. Two Australian athletes were robbed, the Olympic village was reported to be "uninhabitable" by multiple countries, and funding for the sites of the games is low, meaning they will be unstable and unsafe for athletes.

With all of these things happening, I think this is a perfect example of why the Olympics should only be held in first world countries. With that being said, I'm not being insensitive or blaming Rio for their struggles. I, along with everyone else (especially the athletes families), think that safety should be the main focus in these types of situations.

Along with safety, these athletes have trained for years to reach the pinnacle of athletic performance, so they shouldn't have to live in these situations while they're trying to do their job. This can put a strain on their health and their performance during the Olympics, and I think everyone can agree that their years of training shouldn't be wasted because of something that could be changed by the International Olympic Committee. I mean, if you studied for a test for hours just to show up to the test site and it was full of distractions, you would be upset and your focus would be ruined, meaning your test grade wouldn't be as high as it could have been if you were just given better testing conditions.

Rio might have been able to afford the 2016 Summer Olympics seven years ago, but they simply can't anymore, and the safety of our Olympic athletes is in danger because of it.

As of now, no plans of postponing the 2016 Summer Olympic games or moving them to another place have been announced.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
the beatles
Wikipedia Commons

For as long as I can remember, I have been listening to The Beatles. Every year, my mom would appropriately blast “Birthday” on anyone’s birthday. I knew all of the words to “Back In The U.S.S.R” by the time I was 5 (Even though I had no idea what or where the U.S.S.R was). I grew up with John, Paul, George, and Ringo instead Justin, JC, Joey, Chris and Lance (I had to google N*SYNC to remember their names). The highlight of my short life was Paul McCartney in concert twice. I’m not someone to “fangirl” but those days I fangirled hard. The music of The Beatles has gotten me through everything. Their songs have brought me more joy, peace, and comfort. I can listen to them in any situation and find what I need. Here are the best lyrics from The Beatles for every and any occasion.

Keep Reading...Show less
Being Invisible The Best Super Power

The best superpower ever? Being invisible of course. Imagine just being able to go from seen to unseen on a dime. Who wouldn't want to have the opportunity to be invisible? Superman and Batman have nothing on being invisible with their superhero abilities. Here are some things that you could do while being invisible, because being invisible can benefit your social life too.

Keep Reading...Show less
houses under green sky
Photo by Alev Takil on Unsplash

Small towns certainly have their pros and cons. Many people who grow up in small towns find themselves counting the days until they get to escape their roots and plant new ones in bigger, "better" places. And that's fine. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought those same thoughts before too. We all have, but they say it's important to remember where you came from. When I think about where I come from, I can't help having an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for my roots. Being from a small town has taught me so many important lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Keep Reading...Show less
​a woman sitting at a table having a coffee
nappy.co

I can't say "thank you" enough to express how grateful I am for you coming into my life. You have made such a huge impact on my life. I would not be the person I am today without you and I know that you will keep inspiring me to become an even better version of myself.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

112786
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments