Before they even arrive, the “Road to Rio” has been a tumultuous one for some Canadian athletes with appeals launched in two different disciplines. Jessica Phoenix appealed and won her case where the judge remarked that coach Clayton Fredericks had “lost it.” The judge also commented that EC also failed Phoenix when they did not do their due diligence when deciding the team. But the drama didn’t end there; Selena O’Hanlon was replaced at the last minute over concerns for her horse’s soundness and Kathryn Robinson was named back to the team. O’Hanlon hasn’t yet released a statement, but sources suggest this story isn’t over yet.
In dressage, Karen Pavicic’s Olympic dream was squashed. It’s alleged that Libby McMullen exaggerated Megan Lane’s scores at a qualifying competition which improved her rankings and allowed her to qualify for the team. McMullen is currently under investigation by the FEI.
Thankfully, there hasn’t been any drama in jumping, just the sad revelation that Ian won’t be on the Olympic team for the first time since 1972. The good news is that his daughter, Amy Millar, will be making her Olympic debut.
Scary Stuff
I haven’t left yet but the good news is that all reports from people that have already arrived in Rio are very positive: no mosquitoes, beautiful venues, wonderful people, and organization thus far has run smoothly.
That said, I can’t ignore the sheer volume and seriousness of the negative reports we’ve all heard. The CEO of the Rio Organizing Committee, Sidney Levy, says that Zika doesn’t even make his top 10 list of concerns for Rio, which is likely more a reflection of the seriousness of all the other issues, than reality – although he could just be bluffing. Other than saying that security was his primary concern, Levy didn’t actually share his entire list, so I’ve compiled a list based on what I’ve read:
10. Chikungunya – A nasty virus carried by the same mosquitos that transmit Zika and produces a cripplingly painful arthritis. There were 21,000 cases in all of Brazil in 2015 which only qualifies it for the bottom spot.
9. Dengue – This virus causes a high fever, rash and muscle and joint pain with the potential of being fatal – 20 people in Rio died of it last year. There was also an 800% increase in cases from 2014 to 2015 which doesn’t bode well for 2016.
8. Zika – There were 26,000 cases of Zika in Rio in the first three months of 2016. Despite this, the CDC says that there really isn’t any cause for concern, however, the spread of the virus did inspire 150 health care professionals from around the world to write an open letter to WHO asking that the Games be moved or postponed to prevent the global spread of the disease. These aren’t just a group of random no-account outcasts, the list includes professors from major institutions from Canada, USA, Japan, Norway, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and BRAZIL among others. Here’s the letter complete with signatories, you be the judge.
I’ll pause here to remind readers of Bill Gate’s essay, The Most Lethal Animal … you guessed it, the mosquito.
And a second pause to acknowledge OFF! the official bug repellent of the 2016 Games!
7. Transportation – Supposed to be the biggest legacy of the games, the $3 billion new subway line between Ipanema and Barra finally opened Aug. 1st, but only after the federal government gave it a $2.9 billion bailout to make it happen in time for the Olympics. It’s also eight miles short of the Olympic Village so buses will be used to transport people the rest of the way adding to traffic issues in the world’s second most congested city. Some are excited by the reduced commute time, but others question the investment with so many impoverished citizens. I question how many safety protocols were disregarded in the push to make it ready for the Olympics.
6. Mugging – Australian paralympian Liesl Tesch was with team physiotherapist Sarah Ross in June when they were both robbed at gunpoint. Several people saw the incident but no-one stepped in to help. There was a similar incident in May when three members of the Spanish Olympic sailing team were robbed at gunpoint while walking through the city.
5. Kidnapping – Armed police in Brazil reportedly abducted a jiu-jitsu champion from New Zealand, forcing him into a car and threatening to put him in jail if he didn’t give them money. After being further intimidated at his home, Lee opted to leave the country.
4. Water – Raw sewage flowing right into the waterway where dead bodies are regularly retrieved (link). Thankfully equestrian sports are far away from the waterfront in Deodoro, but I can’t help but question the drinking water as well. I can’t imagine what the athletes in the water sports are thinking right now with the warnings about not getting water in your mouth… how absurd is that?! The US team is even giving their horses filtered water!
3. Infrastructure – With so many components being pulled together at the last minute one can’t help but wonder about the quality of the work. A cycling path collapsed in the spring, the sailing ramp collapsed, and the Aussies made the abysmal state of the Athletes Village known around the world. Even if everything is ready for the first day, how safe are these buildings that were built with such haste and how long will they last without needing serious repairs?
2. Gangs – It’s common knowledge that the gangs run the favelas (shanty towns) throughout Rio. Despite the “Police Pacification Units” that have been installed to help mitigate the violence, the gangs still have the upper hand. The video of the violent shoot-out between the gangs and the police along the main Olympic highway is a terrifying reminder that even if they were paid, the police aren’t fully in charge.
1. Security – On this point, I agree with Levy. He noted his concern over lone wolves who are almost impossible to detect in advance, but when the police and firefighters greet visitors at Rio’s international airport with a sign the reads “Welcome to Hell. Police and firefighters don’t get paid, whoever comes to Rio de Janeiro will not be safe” – there’s cause for concern. Hopefully the 85,000 security agents they’ve brought in will be able to keep the peace, but with Amnesty International reporting a shocking 135% increase in people killed by police you have to ask at what cost.
HOWEVER, to no one’s shock I’m sure, news reports can greatly exaggerate risks. Zika and Dengue are already world-wide concerns and, like West Nile, affect mainly people with already weakened immune systems. As Martin Cetron, M.D., director of global migration and quarantine for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes: “Even if the max of 500,000 people traveled to the Olympics, those trips account for less than one quarter of a percent of all travel between Zika-affected countries. The Olympics are effectively a drop in the bucket.”
As far as violent crime is concerned, Rio doesn’t even rate in the top 50 most dangerous cities. Unlike Acapulco (#4) which 1,000s of tourists visit regularly and St. Louis, MO (#15), which vastly outstrips Detroit MI (#28), Rio is one of the South American cities that pose a low risk for violent crime. As far as other crime is concerned, it does hit #11, one above (below?) Detroit (12) and 6 above scary ol’ St. Louis (17). That is not to say these places are safe, but rather to put the risk level into a rational perspective. Both American cities, as with Acapulco, are rife with tourists who simply take reasonable precautions.
Water pollution concerns may also be somewhat over-hyped. As beaches across Canada go under water safety advisories for the summer, we are reminded that any shallow water areas frequented by humans are at risk for contamination. In fact, Canada’s Chief Medical Officer for the Olympics Bob McCormack notes about one of the world’s most eco-friendly cities: “I’m from Vancouver; if I went swimming in False Creek or English Bay I would have the same potential risk of getting sick but the risk is low and the water meets recognized international standards.”
I was in Rio for the 2007 Pan Am Games and had a fantastic time and was initially genuinely excited to return, but the country’s downward spiral since has changed the landscape and my eagerness. Usually when I travel to these exciting events, I have a number of friends who ask to be secreted away in my luggage, but that hasn’t happened once this time and has instead been replaced with numerous and heartfelt wishes for “safe travels.”
Setting aside the turmoil and concerns, the Olympics still feature the very best athletes in the world. Even if I’m apprehensive about the rest, I remain very excited to have the privilege of watching them compete.
