Brazil is racing to clean up the alarmingly polluted bay that will host Olympic events in 12 months
Ricardo Moraes/Reuters
Reports regarding the country's preparation for the event, however, have not been great. In April, 2014, IOC vice-president John Coates called the preparation "the worst ever." This April, the AP reported that the Rodrigo de Freitas lagoon, one of two central waterways to be used for sailing and rowing events, was plagued by a fish die-off.
It was at least the second fish-die off in 2015. The first occurred in February at Guanabara Bay - where other water events are schedule to take place.
A local photographer named Alex Moutinho told the AP, "Every year there are these die-offs, sometimes bigger, sometimes smaller. It's one more Brazilian shame."
With just over a year until the Opening Ceremonies, held at the famous Maracana stadium in Rio on August 5, the IOC head Thomas Bach said Wednesday that cleaning up Guanabara Bay will be the biggest challenge Rio 2016 faces in the final year of preparation for the Olympics. As of right now, sewage, debris, and dangerous bacteria are all commonplace in the bay. These massive fish die-offs are common occurrences, too, and likely the result of such heavy pollution.
Some athletes are demanding that the windsurfing and sailing events be moved to cleaner bodies of water, but Rio officials have denied this request and said that trash-collecting boats will protect the athletes. IOC officials, meanwhile, have acknowledged that although Guanabara Bay will not be completely pollution-free, they will be improved and safe enough for competition.
- Google I/O 2024 highlights: Ask Photos, AI Overviews, AI fraud protection and more announced
- PFC Q4 profit grows 23% to ₹7,556 crore
- IIFCL profit rises 44% to highest-ever of ₹1,552 crore in FY24
- Butterfly basin: Astronomers find the biggest known reservoir of planet-forming ingredients around a young star!
- SEBI grants LIC three more years to achieve 10% public shareholding
- Nothing Phone (2a) blue edition launched
- JNK India IPO allotment date
- JioCinema New Plans
- Realme Narzo 70 Launched
- Apple Let Loose event
- Elon Musk Apology
- RIL cash flows
- Charlie Munger
- Feedbank IPO allotment
- Tata IPO allotment
- Most generous retirement plans
- Broadcom lays off
- Cibil Score vs Cibil Report
- Birla and Bajaj in top Richest
- Nestle Sept 2023 report
- India Equity Market