Rio Olympics the Worst Ever

Water filled with sewage, air not fit to breathe, a terrorist threat, the Zika virus, athletes opting out, athletes kicked out - and, oh yes - cops and firefighters saying you won't be safe in Rio de Janeiro.

A couple of weeks ago I saw news footage of Brazilian firefighters and cops greeting arriving passengers with signs to the effect that they would not be safe in Rio since the government wasn't paying them. With the high crime rate in Rio, that is a serious concern. That was about the same time that it was announced that the Zika virus was concentrated there and would pose serious risks to athletes and visitors.

Then we got word that one of the violent Guantanamo Bay terrorists that Obama released to live the good life in Uruguay had escaped that nation, and was presumed to be on his way to Rio. Hopefully, he just plans to watch the games, but considering his former occupation it would not be a stretch to think he might plan something more - explosive.

And we can’t forget the athletes. Many of the Russian athletes will not be allowed to compete because they have engaged in doping. And others (particularly American athletes) have opted out of the games or said they are considering doing so because of the dangers to their health. I was very surprised to see a report that the American basketball team has devised a brilliant way to protect their health. They have rented a small cruise ship and will stay there when they aren't competing.  And - no big surprise - the Olympic organizers and hotshots aren't staying in Rio, either (though they are telling the athletes it's perfectly safe). They have rented a luxury cruise liner for themselves. But by far the worst problems are the water and air. Drinking and breathing are two very popular activities among humans. And it seems that anyone who lives in or visits Rio is risking his life very time he engages in either of them.
The photo shows the filth in Rio’s Guanabara Bay, where the sailing events will take place. (Don’t fall out of your boats, boys and girls!) The government warns its citizens not to put their faces in the water in the areas where the swimming competitions will take place. Unfortunately, the athletes will not have any choice in the matter if they choose to compete.
 
Worst, raw human sewage is dumped into all the waters where these world-class athletes will be exposed. And Brazil has lied about the water quality to the IOC (International Olympic Committee) for years. See the linked article from the British newspaper The Guardian: “Athletes at Rio Olympics to Compete in 'Basically Raw Sewage', Study Reveals.”

 Brazil promised to clean up at least 80% of the sewage and trash polluting the waters  where the athletes would compete. But an Associated Press analysis of the water has found that it is still “disgustingly polluted” and has “disease-causing viruses directly linked to human sewage at levels up to 1.7 million times what would be considered highly alarming in the U.S. or Europe.” Athletes who participated in test events have suffered serious illnesses and even MRSA (the “flesh-eating” virus) infections.