Monday 3 August 2015 13:29, UK
With the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro just over a year away, organising committee officials have admitted they are unable to meet their clean-up targets, reports Orla Chennaoui
The World Health Organisation has told the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to analyse pollution levels in Rio's waters, after an investigation warned of potentially serious health risks to athletes at certain venues.
It’s a significant concern to organisers, officials and athletes.
We took a visit to Guanabara Bay where the sailing and windsurfing will take place and it really is quite unpleasant.
When the wind blows in the wrong direction we can get quite a stench. There is debris and rubbish everywhere, with around 70 per cent of Rio de Janeiro’s open sewage going straight into the water.
We saw plenty for vultures to feast on all along the coast and the organisers have admitted they cannot clean it up in time for the Olympic Games.
This is not just about aesthetics, though, it is also a problem with regard to competition.
We spoke to Team GB’s sailing squad, who are here ahead of a test event later this month, and they said they are concerned and they see the problems every day when they go out into the bay.
Plastic bags could be a problem, for instance. If they run into any of this physical pollution in the water, it could, in the worst case scenario, be the end of their Olympics.
They accept it is not going to be ready on time, so they are just going to hope their competition goes ahead as planned.
It is a concern but nothing can be done apart from damage limitation at this stage.
I don’t think it will put athletes off because it is the Olympic Games, it is still the pinnacle of their sporting careers.
Whether it is a reflection on the rest of Rio de Janeiro’s preparation, that is exactly what the International Olympic Committee will be trying to assess this week.
They arrive in town ahead of the one year to go (mark) until the 2016 Games, that will be on Wednesday, and they will spend a couple of days looking around the city.
I don’t think it would be fair to say this is a reflection of the overall preparation.
They have been behind on a number of the builds but they have made up quite a bit of progress in that regard.
They will be still be behind on other things but overall. I think the IOC will go away fairly happy with how things are looking at the moment.
They will be looking at a number of things, including venue preparation, as well as things that are specific to Rio.
These would include the favelas, or shanty towns, that have traditionally been home to gun lords and drugs. Will they be safe on time for the Games?
"They will also be looking at things like transport and whether fans able to get hold of tickets and if the process is going well, as well as whether the corporate sponsors are happy.
The IOC will also be looking at whether they are happy with their accommodation and transport.
We will be following the IOC and trying to see through their eyes just how ready Rio is. We will be looking at a number of things, including security, to see just how safe Rio is for fans and athletes.
We are also going to be looking at what sort of experience you can expect if you are lucky enough to be coming to Rio de Janeiro this time next year.
We will also have a quick look at the World Cup legacy to see just what state Rio and Brazil as a whole has been left ahead of the Games.
Orla Chennaoui will be in Rio throughout the week - read her reports on skysports.com or tune into Sky Sports News HQ each day.
