Bodies of water in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which are intended to be used for next summer’s Olympic Games, are so contaminated that athletes who swim or boat in them could become sick. The Associated Press (AP), a U.S.-based news service, conducted an analysis of the water quality there. High levels of viruses and bacteria from human feces were found. Some of the athletes who are training in Rio have already become infected and sick. Brazilian officials say that the water will be safe for the athletes competing in the games.
The water became contaminated from untreated sewage, which runs into the rivers and streams flowing into these bodies of water designated for use during the Olympics. Water contamination is a persistent problem in Rio, a city of 6.32 million people that sits on the Atlantic Ocean and is home to the Rodrigo de Freitas Lake. Many of the city’s iconic beaches are deserted right now because of the raw sewage - water from people’s toilets, sinks, and showers - in the ocean and lake water.
This summer, Olympic athletes have been swimming and boating in the water as a part of the Olympic qualifying events. More than 10,000 participants from 205 countries are estimated to compete in Rio’s 2016 Summer Olympics.
Bodies of water in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which are intended to be used for next summer’s Olympic Games, are so contaminated that athletes who swim or boat in them could become sick. The Associated Press (AP), a U.S.-based news service, conducted an analysis of the water quality there. High levels of viruses and bacteria from human feces were found. Some of the athletes who are training in Rio have already become infected and sick. Brazilian officials say that the water will be safe for the athletes competing in the games.