Blame it on Rio...........2016 Olympics Thread

EXPERT TO RIO TRAVELERS: 'DON'T PUT YOUR HEAD UNDER WATER'

Just days ahead of the Olympic Games the waterways of Rio de Janeiro are as filthy as ever, contaminated with raw human sewage teeming with dangerous viruses and bacteria, according to a 16-month-long study commissioned by The Associated Press.

Not only are some 1,400 athletes at risk of getting violently ill in water competitions, but the AP's tests indicate that tourists also face potentially serious health risks on the golden beaches of Ipanema and Copacabana.

The AP's survey of the aquatic Olympic and Paralympic venues has revealed consistent and dangerously high levels of viruses from the pollution, a major black eye on Rio's Olympic project that has set off alarm bells among sailors, rowers and open-water swimmers.

In light of the findings, biomedical expert Valerie Harwood had one piece of advice for travelers to Rio: "Don't put your head under water."

News from The Associated Press

 

That "don't put your head underwater" thing is going to make the swimming leg of the tri interesting.

 

From a friend of a friend's twitter staying in the media compound.
It appears there is a backup of some kind.

 

I understand millions in the US will watch. No problem with that. But I have less interest in these Olympics than any I can remember, probably dating back to Munich in 1972, when I was just starting college and didn't care about anything outside my little cocoon.

 

Did anyone here watch The Nazi Games on PBS tonight? Pretty good show, all focused on the summer Olympics, but they didn't say squat about the winter games held in Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Feb 1936.

 

One thing that's really noticeable in this Olympics is now many repeat Olympians there are. Michael Phelps has now been on the scene almost as long as Bartolo Colon. There's a repeat woman gymnast from the Boston area, Aly Raisman, and that never used to happen. Usain Bolt's no fresh face, either. It's probably an inescapable part of the professionalization of the best-known Olympic sports, but part of the appeal of the Games to me was the fact it had a new cast of characters every time.

 

Basically every time a city over spends on this nonsense it's a tribute to Hitler.

 

USWNT begins pool play tonight.

 

Yep. Even the excessive pomp, fanfare and torch relay trace back to Kraut.

 

And it was nice to see the IOC was just as quick to turn a blind eye to human indecency then as they are now.

 

Looking ahead ... Not only are baseball and softball back, but also Citius, Altius and surf's up!

Baseball, softball, four other sports officially added to 2020 Olympics