Athletes are getting robbed at gunpoint, the water venues are full of raw sewage, the beach venues are flooding, and hometown fans are booing foreign athletes for simply competing against Brazil. With the help of heavy rains later in the day, local authorities say they got the blaze under control.
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The Rio Olympics has experienced no shortage of environmental issues since they began, and on Monday, the Olympic mountain biking venue was reportedly in danger as a raging brush fire broke out in the nearby area threatening the course.
The conditions were a result of a fire which a Rio 2016 spokeswoman said started about 4pm near the Deodoro sports complex, home of the equestrian, rugby sevens, shooting, BMX, mountain biking, canoeing, kayaking, women’s basketball and modern pentathlon at these Games.
“The UCI is aware that there was a fire this afternoon in the vicinity of the Rio 2016 mountain bike course”, a UCI statement read.
Officials with cycling’s governing body, the Union Cycliste Internationale, acknowledged the fire, stating it was under control.
“All operations will resume today [Tuesday] as planned with National Olympic Committees being given the opportunity to walk the course later in the morning”.
Quebec City native and Pan Am gold medallist Raphaël Gagné, as well as Léandre Bouchard of Alma, Que., will race in the men’s cross-country on Sunday.
Rio 2016 spokesman Mario Andrada said there had been some damage to the course, although unconfirmed reports said it was only to signage.
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“I heard about the fire, but I really don’t know [anything]”, said Sagan on Tuesday.
