The IOC, which adheres to the WHO’s advice, insisted there were no plans to relocate or postpone the games.
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A backhoe removes dirt from a sewage-clogged canal that empties into the Guanabara Bay in Sao Goncalo, Brazil, April 11, 2016.
He wrote about Brazil’s political problems, the recent murder in San Paulo of a 17-year-old girl, and “the state of public hospitals” in Brazil. The WHO’s description of places to avoid applies to a large area of Rio de Janeiro, he said.
What transpires with this potentially catastrophic issue in the next three months will unquestionably come down to protecting the exorbitant cash investment in the 2016 Olympic Games by the IOC and Brazilian olympic officials versus preventing the certain acceleration of the dissemination of a risky disease across the globe.
Will that bear out?
The event’s participants are split between those who believe the games should be postponed or moved, and those who will go to the Olympics regardless of the conditions.
Will a change in the country’s chief executive cause more problems as the calendar ticks down to Rio? A former ally, Vice President Michel Temer, is assembling a new Cabinet. It said it is working with the World Health Organization and others to limit risks. “This lack of command is very bad, but by June everything will be much clearer”.
Rousseff’s suspension answers at least one question.
The Rio Olympic Games must not proceed – that is the warning from an global health expert who says the Zika virus poses a bigger threat than many authorities are willing to admit.
World health officials are urging International Olympic Committee members to either postpone of move this Summer’s 31st Olympiad due to mass Zika virus outbreaks.
This is the first time golf has returned to the Olympics since 1904. The South American nation is where the outbreak began in April past year, and has remained an epicentre for the mosquito-borne virus – which produces babies with abnormally tiny heads and underdeveloped brains, and is also linked to Guillain-Barre syndrome, a neurological disorder that can cause paralysis and death. This includes trying to quantify what the risk is for pregnant women and others. For this reason, many Olympic athletes have voiced outright concern over competing in 2016’s Olympic Games. “No magic tricks will take us from this quagmire immediately”.
“We are focused on ensuring that Team Singapore is prepared and ready to go to Rio to do their best for Singapore at the Games”, said Mr Low.
It did not call for moving the Olympics from Brazil. The country is predicted to win about 25 medals this time – its best-ever showing and cracking the top 10 – but Olympic interest pales alongside soccer’s World Cup.
“With stakes like that, bluntly put, these Olympics are no game at all”.
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“Clearly traditional Olympic athletes are in a very awkward situation”.
