The quadrennial sporting extravaganza that is the Olympics is normally a much-anticipated event with the whole world watching. But surprisingly, the lead up to Rio 2016 has been underwhelming, to say the least, with the games being plagued by a horde of controversies which have taken the sheen off the event.
With the opening ceremony for Rio 2016 less than a day away, we take a look at five of the major issues that have plagued the Olympics this time around:-
1) The Zika threat
The outbreak of the Zika virus was the first and foremost issue that has affected the Olympics. The outbreak in Brazil, which was declared as a global public health emergency by the World Health Organisation (WHO), scared many athletes and spectators away who opted not to take a risk by travelling to Rio.
Zika is spread through mosquito bites and by having unprotected sex with an affected person and will lead to complications in pregnant woman including birth defects. In fact, several top athletes including star golfer Rory McIlroy cited Zika fears while announcing their decision to skip the Olympics.
2) The Russian doping scandal
The mass doping scandal involving Russian athletes was another controversy that hogged the limelight in the lead up to the Olympics. After a report from World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) implicated the Russian Govt in a state-run mass doping programme that stretched from 2011 to 2015 came to light, there were calls to ban the country altogether from the Olympics.
Though it did not come to that extreme, the systematic cheating measures which resulted in 312 positive Russian tests across 28 Olympic sports meant IOC left it to the individual governing associations to decide on banning the Russian athletes. The International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) decided to ban all Russian track-and-field athletes though.
3) Poor standard of accommodation in Olympic Village
The state of accommodation provided to the athletes in the Games village in Rio also attracted a lot of negative press in the lead up to the Olympics. Several countries, Australia prominent among them, complained that the facilities were inhospitable and had to put up their contingent in hotels until adequate repairs were made. Plumbing and electrical works at several apartments were found to be woefully inadequate. There were also complaints that several flats were unfurnished.
On top of this, there was even a fire scare in the apartment of the Australian contingent where the fire alarms did not go off and members of the squad were robbed while they evacuated the building. Such incidents have led many to question the safety and well-being of athletes at Rio.
4) Toxic water at games venues
In a very dangerous development, water bodies where the outdoor water sports like sailing, rowing, kayaking etc were supposed to take place was found to be severely polluted, leading many to question the ability of the organisers to ensure the safety of athletes.
Startling reports emerged of raw sewage and trash from the city flowing into the water bodies which are supposed to host Olympic events. A study found that Rio’s waters had viruses that were up to 1.7 million times more hazardous than an average beach in the US.
The toxic waters were not the only issue troubling those in charge of conducting the water sports. The main ramp at the sailing venue collapsed only days before the opening ceremony, highlighting the poor quality of construction undertaken.
5) Crime wave
The city of Rio and its suburbs have witnessed an escalation in street crimes in the run-up to the Olympic games, not to mention th organised protests which marred the arrival of the Olympic torch in the city. The security agencies are struggling to deal with a number of crime gangs which try to exploit tourists and athletes alike.
Several startling incidents have come to light – Australian Paralympics athletes were mugged and robbed at gunpoint last month, a New Zealand athlete was allegedly kidnapped and robbed by the Rio police themselves, human body parts washed up on shore near one of the beach volleyball sites. Incidents like these have planted a seed of doubt among athletes and spectators alike as to their safety.
Though the controversies have hogged the limelight, the focus is likely to shift to sporting matters once the Olympics gets underway. As it should be!
