Fear of Floaters is so Yesterday

For nearly three years, the 2016 Olympic sailing venue has been in the spotlight. The pollution of Guanabara Bay was well known, with fear that illness and obstacles might impact the competition. But now fear of floaters is so yesterday. Political corruption, crippling recession, high crime, and the Zika virus hoard the headlines.

It is the later that is deservedly getting the most attention. Brazil’s Zika problem is inconveniently not ending. The outbreak that began in the country’s northeast has reached Rio de Janeiro, where it is flourishing. And now the Harvard Public Health Review has published a report how the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games must be postponed, moved, or both, as a precautionary concession.

None of this is helping to attract people to the Rio Games, with ticket sales lagging behind those that London had sold at this point before the 2012 Olympics. Even Brazilian World Cup winner Rivaldo is telling tourists to stay away from the Olympics because of the danger of endemic violence.

Let us not forget that when Rio was selected in 2009, it became the first South American city to host the Olympics, triumphing over finalists Chicago, Madrid, and Tokyo. The headlines could have been much different this summer.