RIO DE JANEIRO — The Summer Olympics are quickly approaching, and that for Rio de Janeiro seems to be the problem.
When Rio was bidding to host the 2016 Summer Olympics, it promised the International Olympics Committee it would get rid of 80 percent of the sewage found in the city's waterways and would fully regenerate the lagoon where rowing and kayaking events would be held.
After an in-depth report by ESPN's Outside The Lines, things are not looking so good. Outside The Lines' Bonnie Ford checks out several locations where the water is filled with garbage.
Rio 2016 spokeswoman Mario Andrada told Ford, "It's not going to happen because there was not enough commitment, funds and energy."
Andrada went on, "However, we finally got something that the bay has been missing for generations, which is public will for the cleaning."
"Nobody wants to have guests at their house and show a dirty house. So if we're not able to reach the target, we need to keep working until the last minute and make sure that the athletes can compete in safe waters, and we've been doing this."
The problem is that Rio's waters are still teeming with bacteria and viral pathogens.
Athletes have been asked to get hepatitis A vaccinations, polio vaccine boosters and to take the oral typhoid vaccine. Boats and oar handles will be consistently cleaned with bleach after practices and competitions.
Athletes will also have to douse themselves with hand sanitizer as well as shower immediately after races.
With the Summer Games only months away, can Rio clean up its act?
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