Rio 2016

Rowing and Paddling in the cesspool

The German rowing and Canoeing teams apply at the Olympic games in Rio to members of the large Medal. In view of the continuing poor water conditions you are concerned.

Rios water pollution often leads to fish die

A “greener and cleaner Rio”. This was one of the targets, which had been written by the Olympic organizers after the successful application of the metropolis on sugar loaf mountain in 2009 on the flags. This includes the refurbishment of the decades-infested waters Rios. For the German canoeists and rowers is, however, shortly before the start of the games, the still-miserable quality of water causes them great concern. “Such poor conditions I’ve experienced at the Olympics never, I can say without reservation,” said canoe-national coach Reiner Kießler.

Kießlers athletes in the Rodrigo de Freitas lagoon, near the district of Copacabana, at the Start, where you have to hope for numerous medals. The picturesque location in the shadow of the Corcovado with the famous Christ the Redeemer Statue, however, can fool hardly on the poor water conditions. Still waters enormous quantities of sewage and garbage from flowing in in Rios, which always leads to die back to a solid fish.

Canoeist Sebastian Brendel wants to win in Rio, his second gold medal

Although Rodrigo de Freitas is connected via a channel with the Atlantic ocean, which cleans the water in the lagoon, to a certain extent. In addition, Rio’s Olympic organizers had tried to clean the waters of the city around with the help of special boats stronger. But the Associated Press news Agency published only last year of studies, after which the water was contaminated in Rodrigo de Freitas continues to partially with viruses and bacteria.

Water in the mouth can make you sick

Who gets of Rio lagoon water is accidentally sprayed into the mouth, could be therefore, sick. “Then it’s dangerous. In such moments, s is’an uncomfortable,” said London Olympic champion Franziska Weber, the targeting in a kayak-the Two about 500 metres along with her partner Tina Dietze again for Olympic Gold. Water to prevent contact with both when rowing and when Paddling normally and. “It will not be possible that one gets no water. So clean you can’t drive it”, was the verdict of Hans In, stroke of the oars-double Quartet: “I hope, however, that it is reasonably tolerable. That it’s not raining, maybe even in the days in which we are there.”

The athletes want to try everything, in order to minimize the risks of a disease. “We must not drink from bottles in the Boot because the dirty water is in contact,” says Lisa Schmidla, woman of the rudder-double-Quartet of women. Canoeist Marcus Major, the together with team mate Max Rendschmidt as a favorite in the kayak-Two over 1000 metres, preaching discipline: “It is important to wash your hands well and cleans everything.” All in all, the lagoon “is not Olympia is ripe,” he stated.

The lagoon Jacarepagua, in the South of Rio de Janeiro is considered to be particularly dirty

That Rio will not meet its targets in terms of water quality, is due to several reasons. For a pour of the residents in Rio’s slums, the Favelas, your wastewater is still partially unfiltered into nearby canals and rivers, which direct the dirt then in the lagoons. Carlos Muniz, Minister of the environment of the city of Rio de Janeiro, told the “Washington Post” that this was not, however, prevent. The Favela residents have no other option, since it lacks the ceiling of a comprehensive treatment system, but also on the awareness of the Problem would remain common. Muniz spoke of a “long term challenge”, making a “cultural change” is required.

Dirt is not the only Problem

An anonymous spokesperson for the urban environment Ministry pointed to the “Washington Post” however, that lack of efficiency have contributed within the authority as well significantly to the ongoing instance of maladministration. For the Oceanaut David Zee from the state University of Rio de Janeiro, this is a disappointing circumstance. Since the water quality of a city is an important indicator of “public health”, Rio failed in this regard”,” said Zee to the Post.

For the German Canoeing and rowing athlete of the dirt in the water of the Lagoon is not the only Problem. On top of that, the athletes have to fight grew up with different water depths and wild plants as Test events in the Olympic had shown prior to. “Who caught a Creeper, is doomed to Lose. This is a very filthy Grass, at the test competition several grasses have come into the control and have affected the athletes,” said national coach Kießler: “It is very difficult, it is a regular conditions.”