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AP Investigation: Olympic teams to swim, boat in Rio's filth
http://bigstory.ap.org/article/d92f6af5121f49d982601a657d ^ | July 30, 2015 2:01 PM EDT | BRAD BROOKS and JENNY BARCHFIELD, ap

Posted on 07/29/2015 9:34:50 PM PDT by Citizen Zed

An Associated Press investigation found dangerously high levels of viruses and bacteria from sewage in venues where athletes will compete in the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic water sports.

In the first independent comprehensive testing for both viruses and bacteria at the Olympic sites, the AP conducted four rounds of tests starting in March. The results have alarmed international experts and dismayed competitors training in Rio, some of whom have already have fallen ill with fevers, vomiting and diarrhea.

These ailments could knock an athlete out for days, potentially curtailing Olympics dreams and the years of hard training behind them.

"This is by far the worst water quality we've ever seen in our sailing careers," said Ivan Bulaja, a coach for the Austrian team, which has spent months training on the Guanabara Bay. "I am quite sure if you swim in this water and it goes into your mouth or nose that quite a lot of bad things are coming inside your body."

Sailor David Hussl has already fallen ill.

"I've had high temperatures and problems with my stomach," Hussl said. "It's always one day completely in bed and then usually not sailing for two or three days."

Water pollution has long plagued Brazil's urban areas, where most sewage isn't collected, let alone treated. In Rio, much of the waste runs through open-air ditches to fetid streams and rivers that feed the Olympic water sites and blight the city's picture postcard beaches.

Brazilian authorities pledged that a major overhaul of the city's waterways would be among the Olympics' most significant legacies. But the stench of raw sewage still greets travelers touching down at Rio's international airport.

(Excerpt) Read more at bigstory.ap.org ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Extended News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS:
The slums of Rio. Where's Waldo? ...


1 posted on 07/29/2015 9:34:50 PM PDT by Citizen Zed
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To: Citizen Zed

They don’t make you drink the local water in Rio, they import bottles of spring water from Figi by the millions.


2 posted on 07/29/2015 9:37:57 PM PDT by editor-surveyor (Freepers: Not as smart as I'd hoped they'd be)
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To: Citizen Zed

Dude - that photo is actual size!


3 posted on 07/29/2015 9:38:29 PM PDT by HonkyTonkMan
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To: Citizen Zed

Well I love that dirty water. Oh, Rio, you’re my home


4 posted on 07/29/2015 9:40:46 PM PDT by dfwgator
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To: Citizen Zed

One match, or one great rain and all that colorful stuff would be gone.


5 posted on 07/29/2015 9:43:36 PM PDT by doc1019 (Blue lives matter)
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To: Citizen Zed
I love favelas. It's Frederick Hayek in real time.
6 posted on 07/29/2015 9:44:37 PM PDT by demshateGod (The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.)
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To: dfwgator; Tijeras_Slim

Ha!


7 posted on 07/29/2015 9:46:46 PM PDT by Liberty Valance (Keep a Simple Manner for a Happy Life :o)
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To: Citizen Zed

Really a shame. I was in Brazil for the World Cup last year, and the people are wonderful. They spent a ton of money on new stadiums, most of which are not being used much. (In the meantime, clearly some FIFA officials made a lot of money). If the Olympics are going to be held there, Brazil should use this as an opportunity to upgrade their sanitation infrastructure. The country is really hurting.


8 posted on 07/29/2015 9:48:26 PM PDT by pieceofthepuzzle
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To: doc1019

They’ve been there for about 100 years. Almost everything is made of reinforced concrete with structural clay tile infill. It’s very strong. People work together to build when and where they want learning by years of trial and error and close interaction.


9 posted on 07/29/2015 9:48:33 PM PDT by demshateGod (The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.)
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To: demshateGod

One of the greatest things about FR, if you listen, your education grows. TY


10 posted on 07/29/2015 9:50:44 PM PDT by doc1019 (Blue lives matter)
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To: pieceofthepuzzle
The fevelas do need infrastructure.
11 posted on 07/29/2015 9:51:05 PM PDT by demshateGod (The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.)
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To: HonkyTonkMan

There goes the rest of my data plan!


12 posted on 07/29/2015 9:52:05 PM PDT by MNDude (God is not a Republican, but Satan is certainly a Democrat.)
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To: editor-surveyor
They don’t make you drink the local water in Rio, they import bottles of spring water from Figi by the millions.

Doesn't mean squat if you are on the swim team or play water polo.

13 posted on 07/29/2015 9:57:58 PM PDT by hinckley buzzard
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To: dfwgator

‘Blame it on the bossa nova’
You know, explosive diarrhea could make the difference in sprints. And everyone’s gonna want to be the lead sled dog.
But it could get ugly.


14 posted on 07/29/2015 9:58:39 PM PDT by tumblindice (America's founding fathers: all armed conservatives.)
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To: doc1019

You know ‘Brazil nuts’? Down there they just call them nuts.


15 posted on 07/29/2015 10:07:28 PM PDT by tumblindice (America's founding fathers: all armed conservatives.)
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To: Citizen Zed
Where's Waldo? ...

If you look closely, you can see pervert bill clinton window peeking in the shanty to the immediate right of the 3 story yellow shanty.

16 posted on 07/29/2015 10:08:43 PM PDT by Mr Apple (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCrO2SPsYjI)
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To: Citizen Zed

Those buildings wouldn’t do well in an earthquake.


17 posted on 07/29/2015 11:06:14 PM PDT by Ken H
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To: Citizen Zed

Brazil is the country of the future: and always will be.


18 posted on 07/29/2015 11:16:18 PM PDT by Jim from C-Town (The government is rarely benevolent, often malevolent and never benign!)
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To: hinckley buzzard

I don’t swim in pools!

Haven’t for 50 years. If it’s not a river or ocean, I stay dry.
.


19 posted on 07/30/2015 12:18:47 PM PDT by editor-surveyor (Freepers: Not as smart as I'd hoped they'd be)
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