"We also understand that there are issues with the
cleanliness of the water.
This will no doubt be cleaned up by 2016 to avoid embarrassment, but I doubt very much it will be completely resolved in 2015. "
Uhhhhhh.... did he write this 4 years ago? It's not going to be cleaned up AT ALL by next summer.
Since I'm not (and never will be) an ITU/Olympic athlete, I certainly can't speak for the contenders. But, if this was me, I'd pass. I've been reading all of the articles I can find on the Rio games the past year (since I have actually been there before in Dec '12) and I'm appalled that the IOC is even allowing the games to happen. The tests the AP have done reveal disgusting, putrid water conditions. I'm sorry, but I wouldn't swim in sewer water for a medal. Maybe I'm missing it, but where is the outrage form the possible participants?? Why isn't the US delegation (or the ITU itself) threatening to pull out altogether unless something is done to clean up the water? The sad reality is, however, that it would take herculean efforts, even more dollars (that haven't been already stolen and squandered) and 24/7 work to get the Bay remotely cleaner. We're talking the bay AND the coastlines. Impossible. I'm SO glad I didn't go in the water when I was there. I had no clue it was that polluted. What happens if an athlete gets a fatal staph infection? People will say it was worth the glory and honor? C'mon.
Awarding the Games to a third-world country that is 30 years behind the rest of the modern world when it comes to infrastructure is a recipe for disaster. I'm hopeful a miracle can be pulled off. But Brazil has such massive poverty and other critical issues that it needs to be dealing with that
wasting billions of taxpayer dollars on the Games is despicable (need more proof? See what was wasted on the World Cup stadiums that are sitting idle).
I'd love to hear
honest comments from the American squad. But I'm guessing the athletes aren't allowed to speak their minds.