Olympic updates - Rio 2016

Polluted Waters

Polluted waters in Rio are a major concern as the games grow near. The IOC selected Rio back in 2009 because Rio organizers promised the IOC that 80% of all sewage flowing into Rio area waters like Guanabara Bay would be treated. Rio organizers say about half of all sewage is currently being treated. Rio organizers admit the goal will not be reached.

Tests by the AP(Associated Press) for bacteria in Rio waters have been conducted in July and August 2015 and then again results of more testing were released this past week and tests came back mostly within normal limits of fecal bacteria.

The WHO(World Health Organization) only mandates testing for bacteria and not viruses because its cheaper and easier. Although this has been changing due to advances in technology to include viral testing of the water as well. July 2015 virus levels in Brazil waters are over a million times what is considered unsafe in USA and European waters.

About seven percent each of Olympic sailors and rowers got sick(diarrhea, vomiting, respiratory problems) at test events over the summer. That number is double the acceptable level in the USA.

Viral testing was done by the AP recently in Guanabara Bay and the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon area where Olympic sailing and rowing will take place. The results released this past week that from along the shoreline to deeper waters away from the shore, viruses were detected in all of these places. The levels were consistent for raw sewage. Even high levels of fecal bacteria in the lagoon were detected. Samples were taken from Guanabara Bay, Marina da Gloria, Copacabana Beach and Ipanema Beach this past summer with similar results. These two AP tests since August suggest no improvement in the water quality. In fact, the waters are more contaminated than previously known.

Updates to this serious issue will be provided in future blog entries.

Visa Waiver

The government of Brazil has approved a 90 day waiver of visa requirements during the Olympic and Paralympic games. The USA, Canada, Australia and Japan will all benefit from this visa waiver as not all countries will be granted the visa waiver. The waiver starts in June 2016 and last day of the waiver is Sept. 18, 2016, which is the last day of the Paralympics. The waiver is in effect for people with or without Olympic tickets.

Budget Cuts

Rio Organizers announced in October 2015 a 30% reduction($520 million US dollars)of the games budget to try to contain operations costs. The total games budget is $1.9 billion US dollars. Organizers are trying to avoid a ten percent overspend of the budget. The Brazilian government in 2009 promised $700 million US dollars to Rio 2016 organizers to make up any budget overspend. The country is in recession and Brazilians won't tolerate lavish spending on the Olympics.

Cuts will be made in the following:

The Opening Ceremony will be ten percent of the cost of the 2012 London Games.

Fixed structures will be minimized wherever possible as tents will be used.

Reducing the number of volunteers by up to 10,000 and cutting 500 staff positions from the original number of 5,000.

Less printed materials, promotional videos done in house and less backstage structures.

This past week Rio Organizers decided to scrap free air conditioning in the athletes village, instead providing fans for each room. They said it wasn't essential. That decision was reversed quickly. Also there will be no TV's in the athletes bedrooms.

Olympic Security

Even though Brazil has no enemies, there is concern that after the November 13, 2015 Paris attacks that Brazil may not be prepared in case of a terrorist attack on the games. Brazil's borders are long and shared with ten countries. Not enough security measures have been enacted in areas with little population. Rio 2016 plans to use 65,000 police and military troops to protect the games. Another 15,000 security agents can be called upon in an emergency. Rio security agents are training on anti-terrorism tactics like defusing bombs and chemical warfare. French police are training Rio security forces on how to contain protests and rioting. 40,000 security forces were used in the London 2012 games.

The biggest concern right now besides terrorism is street crime. There are several favelas(slums) where drug trafficking and guns go hand in hand. Police are outnumbered and are often killed fighting crime in these favelas. The Rio 2016 security plan ahead of the games is to clean up violent favelas. The Rio 2016 security plan is to have agents spread throughout the city near tourist sites and Olympic venues. Over the past year waves of robberies have taken place at Copacabana Beach and other affluent tourist areas by poor people who live in these favelas. These crime waves come and go as police have trouble catching these thieves who pickpocket and steal cell phones and wallets from tourists. These grab and run robberies are also the priority of police as the games near.

Construction of Olympic venues

The Olympic village which consists of about 30 buildings, is 97% complete according to the Rio 2016 official website. As of December 2015, construction of Barra Olympic Park venues is 95% complete. There are three Carioca arenas, which are at least 96% complete, the Olympic Velodrome is 76% complete, the Olympic Tennis Centre is 90% complete, Future Arena is 100% complete, the Olympic Aquatics Center is 96% complete, the International Broadcast Centre is 100% complete, the Main Press Center is 92% complete, the Olympic hotel is 88% complete, the Olympic golf course is 100% complete.
In the Deodoro Park area, the Mountain Bike Center, Olympic BMX Center and Whitewater Stadium are all 100% complete. The Olympic Hockey Center is 99% complete and finally the Youth Arena is 75% complete.