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No illness so far among teams using water facilities in Rio

BOA Chief executive Bill Sweeney plays down water quality fears at the Rio Olympics

The Marina da Gloria which will host sailing events during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Photograph: Getty Images
The Marina da Gloria which will host sailing events during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Photograph: Getty Images
Tue Aug 02 2016 - 13:37

British Olympic Association (BOA) chief executive Bill Sweeney has reported no illness among the teams using the water facilities at Rio 2016.

There have been concerns about the amount of pollution in water at venues like the Marina da Gloria in Guanabara Bay ahead of the the Games, which get under way this week.

Sweeney told the BBC’s Today programme on Tuesday: “We haven’t had any illnesses and touch wood we won’t have any while we are out here for the Games.

“Our sailors have been out here testing for over 200 days now over the past couple of years. They have been out here extensively, as have the rowers. We have had our open water swimmers out here as well, and we haven’t had any incidences of illness.

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“I don’t believe the situation there has got any worse. We are in regular contact with them and we talk to them about updates on their experiences there.

“There is a very strict hygiene protocol here in terms of dousing down and cleaning down after every contact with water — we make sure that goes on. There is strict adherence to bottled water for brushing your teeth and all sorts of things.”

The Brazilian state government last year admitted it would not be able to meet its original target of reducing pollution in the bay by 80 per cent.

And Sweeney added on Tuesday: “I think it has got better.

“It hasn’t reached that 80 per cent clean-up target, but the last figure I heard — and I’m not an expert on what they are doing with sewage treatment — was 60 per cent. So they haven’t quite got there, and it is a huge task.”

Sweeney also admitted there had been “a number of issues” to deal with in relation to the athletes’ village in Rio and confirmed a dedicated plumber is with Team GB — but insisted the BOA is now “very happy” with the accommodation.

“We expected certain issues,” he said.

“You are coming in to a brand new set-up and there will be 20,000 people living in that village.

“It is a completely new build, so there is bound to be certain teething problems when you come in.

“We had a number of issues we had to deal with — we now have our own dedicated plumber who lives with us just in case any issues arise during the course of the Games. But we are very happy with our accommodation in the village now.”