“It’s an event taking place in the streets, so it’s bound to be a bit messy, especially in Rio de Janeiro“, said Raer Souza, a trim 78-year-old with a white mustache.
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Sowery said he received a call from a woman who wanted reassurance that the ISAF was giving the right guidance to her child and others competing in an Olympic sailing test event this month in Rio.
Sarah True earned the second U.S. womens Olympic qualifying slot with a 4th place finish at Brazils Copacabana Beach, 19 seconds behind Holland.
British triathletes Non Stanford and Vicky Holland moved a step closer to Olympic qualification by finishing second and third, respectively, at the test event in Rio. We want to have as much information as we can to make smart and safe decisions for all the teams, out on the water.
“We’re going to find someone who can do the testing for us that can safely cover what we need to know from a virus perspective as well as the bacteria perspective”, said Peter Sowrey, chief executive of the ISAF. “That’s my plan”.
Rowers practice at Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The concentrations of the viruses in all AP samples were roughly equivalent to that seen in raw sewage – even at one of the least-polluted areas tested, Copacabana Beach, where marathon and triathlon swimming will take place and where numerous expected 350,000 foreign tourists may take a dip.
In an Associated Press story published by the Star Tribune (Minn.), reporter Stephen Wade wrote that the WHO and the ISF will conduct their own tests to measure the levels of virus and other contaminants in Rios’ waters.
“WHO has also advised the IOC to widen the scientific base of indicators to include viruses”, the statement said.
“The athletes and the athletes’ commission have expressed their concern at the current problems with the quality of water, the cleanliness of the water”, Vladimir Salnikov, a former Olympic gold-medal victor, said. “Ultimately too much money has been invested”.
As well as concerns over the safety of sailors competing, there have also been criticisms over how officials have not met a bid promise to use the Olympics and Paralympics to reduce levels by 80 per cent, a key legacy commitment. But Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes has repeatedly acknowledged this will not be done, calling it a “lost opportunity”.
Independent testing for viruses in the waters of Guanabara Bay is to be undertaken by the worldwide Sailing Federation (ISAF) as part of a pledge to “make sure something actually happens” rather than just empty talk.
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Additionally the thousands of sailing hours spent by Olympic hopeful’s familarising they with the flat waters of Guanabara Bay will have been for naught.
