An Associated Press investigation has revealed that the waters in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil are allegedly so dirty that athletes competing in the 2014 Summer Olympics risk becoming violently ill.
The analysis revealed that the water contained "dangerously" high levels of virus and bacteria from human sewage in Olympic and Paralympic venues. This revelation alarmed international experts and worried competitors already training in Rio, some of who have already fallen ill with fevers, vomiting and diarrhea - ailments could knock an athlete out for days, crushing any Olympic dreams they might have once had, according to AP.
"This is by far the worst water quality we've ever seen in our sailing careers," said Ivan Bulaja, a coach for the Austrian team, which has spent months training on the Guanabara Bay, ABC News reported. "I am quite sure if you swim in this water and it goes into your mouth or nose that quite a lot of bad things are coming inside your body."
Sailor David Hussl has already fallen ill after training with his team earlier this month in the Guanabara Bay.
"I've had high temperatures and problems with my stomach," Hussl said. "It's always one day completely in bed and then usually not sailing for two or three days."
The majority of sewage in Brazil goes untreated, making extreme water pollution common in the country. Most of the waste in Rio runs through open-air ditches to fetid streams and rivers that directly feed the Olympic water sites, according to The Huffington Post.
This is the first independent comprehensive testing for both virus and bacteria at the Olympic sites. Official testing in Brazil measures only bacteria - not the viruses that experts say cause the majority of illness related to recreational water activity.
The Brazilian government, which once promised the moon to win its Olympic bid, is no longer sure that it'll be ready in time.
Rio Gov. Luiz Fernando Pezao has acknowledged "there's not going to be time" to finish the cleanup of the bay ahead of the games.
