Will the Rio Olympics make people forget about Sochi?

At the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, the sporting news has been competing for space alongside the problems plaguing the event. You know it’s bad when there’s a Wikipedia page titled Concerns and controversies at the 2014 Winter Olympics.

But sit tight folks, the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil may soon make us forget about Sochi. NPR’s All Things Considered had a report this week which reviewed the troubles that bedevil the 2016 Summer Olympics host city.

Among the issues is pollution. Protestors have brought attention to the high level of water contamination in Rio’s oceans and lakes, where many of the Olympic rowing and sailing events will take place.

“(The athletes) are at risk of diseases, and I think that the government should be making this clear to everyone that’s involved, and I don’t think the government is doing this,” said protester Fernando Leonards.

A large-scale cleanup was promised for Guanabara Bay, which will host the sailing events. Giant so-called eco boats have been sent out, but protesters say it’s a cosmetic solution: Only 30 percent of Rio’s sewage is treated and still flows unimpeded into the area.

Audio below…