The Olympics Start This Week: How Is Rio Doing?
The media is starting to arrive in Rio for the Olympics, so there will undoubtedly be more accounts of ridiculousness this week. What can we expect? Well, hold onto your marsupials, folks:
Swimmers need to ingest only three teaspoons of water to be almost certain of contracting a virus
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 Rio Olympics Fires Its Security Firm Days Before The Games Will Begin
The latest obstacle facing the Brazilian city? They’ve decided to fire the private security firm hired for the Olympics. Quite the bold move with the Opening Ceremonies earmarked to start this Friday, but arguably a necessary one. As Fourth Place Medal notes, the Ministry of Justice cited the “incompetence and irresponsibility” of the firm (the Rio-based Artel) as the drive for the termination. 3,400 security personnel were to be hired for the world sporting showcase, but Artel admitted they only hired 500. That’s what security experts might peg as a “bad thing.”
Showers work great
First attempted shower in room at media village. No hot water and shower head fell off. #RoadToRio pic.twitter.com/bUfxLKh4A6
— Stephen Wade (@StephenWadeAP) August 1, 2016
Main ramp collapses at Rio sailing venue
The main ramp of Marina da Gloria, the sailing venue of the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, partially collapsed on Saturday.
No one was injured, organisers said, in the incident that raises further questions about the quality of construction in the Olympic host city.
Philip Wilkinson, a spokesman for the Rio 2016 organising committee, placed the blame on high tides and a stormy sea. The collapsed structure, which is temporary, is the main access point for boats to reach the water.
It’s always a good idea to place expensive cables and cameras too close to the ocean
Australian athletes were robbed
Australian athletes robbed of personal possessions in Rio. @DamoNews #9News https://t.co/khLuWzK40c
— 9News Australia (@9NewsAUS) July 31, 2016
Young Rio gangsters flaunt weapons in chilling snaps ahead of Olympics
Their country may be hosting the biggest sporting event on the planet, but that hasn’t stopped this menacing Rio drug gang from using social media to boast about their arsenal of deadly weaponry.
Clutching huge guns while striking nonchalant poses, it appears the Brazillian gangsters are showing off their fire power before the 2016 games kick off on August 5.
The images were shared on the Twitter page of Comando Vermelho – a notorious drug cartel which controls large swathes of Rio’s slums.
The vicious gang, also known as the Red Command, use their own private armies to provide security and “dispense” justice.
Chinese athlete robbed of luggage at Rio 2016 after being victim of hoax drunk
Chinese nationals have been warned to tighten their security here after reportedly being involved in several incidents following their arrival this week, including one bizarre robbery involving athlete Shi Dongpeng.
Shi, one of the country’s leading athletes who won a silver medal in the 110 metres hurdles at the Doha 2006 Asian Games, had just checked into his hotel on arrival with an accompanying cameraman when approached by a local who appeared drunk.According to the International Sport Press Association (AIPS), the man then vomited over Shi, who went to clean himself up while the cameraman chased the man out of the hotel.
And to think the worst thing to come out of the Sochi Olympics was Bob Costas getting pink eye. The world ain’t see nothing yet.