Pressure to switch the Olympic Sailing venue for Rio 2016 has been increasing in recent weeks following reports that the host city will be unable to deliver on it's targets to clean-up Guanabara Bay.
The International Sailing Federation's (ISAF) head of competitions Alastair Fox has recently been to the venue to bring pressure on the city's Olympic administration and convey the frustration of the sailors at the lack of progress.
Around 100 rivers flow into the bay or giant lagoon, most or all of which are reckoned to be dead due to the massive pollution problem of the waste created in a city of six million people.
Thousands of fish washed up on the shores of the bay recently in a massive kill-off that clogged the area, parts of which are scheduled to be used for Olympic competitions.
Two threats have been identified as being of concern to the teams.
The first is infection caused by bacteria in the water though some experts have suggested that only people with reduced immune systems would be at most risk. Olympic athletes might not be affected.
Unfair competition
The larger issue for the sailing events is that of flotsam or partially submerged objects that become entangled in boats or foils, slowing the unlucky crew and thus creating an unfair competition.
At the ISAF World Cup in France last week, Fox updated the team managers on progress in Rio. The situation at the venue is not what was promised when the city won the selection bid.
Brazilian Olympic sailing legend Torben Grael reportedly apologised for the condition of the racing area in his home city.
Amongst the remedies being considered are “flotilla arms” to stop the rubbish getting into the bay from the rivers.
‘Isn’t pleasant”
“While the water certainly isn’t pleasant, we’ve been assured that there shouldn’t be a risk to the sailors,” said ISA performance manager James O’Callaghan. “Our bigger concern is the rubbish in the water that can tag on to a rudder or a foil and affect the competition.
“My experience at the Olympics is that there’s always something that the media like to latch onto so there’s a little tendency to hype a little bit.”
Another measure being considered is an additional outer coastal course that would bring racing offshore and away from the most polluted waters.
“It’s a big stick as the organisers will want the racing inside the harbour where it can be a spectacle, said O’Callaghan.
