Polluted Waters of the Olympics
By Jeff Moffitt
@moffittjc (128835)
Gainesville, Florida
August 3, 2016 1:06pm CST
It just blows my mind that Olympics officials and Brazilian government officials think it is acceptable and okay to let Olympic long-distance swimmers and rowers swim in the polluted waters in Rio! Their poor decision-making skills could cause a serious potential health risk for these athletes.
Instead of actually doing something to clean up the polluted waters in and around Rio, you know what their solution is? They simply told the swimmers not to open their mouths when they are in the water, so as to minimize the risk of swallowing the polluted water. And the rowers have taken to soak their oars and paddles in bleach to try and minimize any chance of coming into contact with dangerous toxins!
Several tests of the oceans and lakes in Rio show toxin levels at 10,000 times the levels considered safe in the United States. Apparently, this isn't too alarming for Olympic officials.
Athletes train their entire lives for the golden opportunity to participate in the Olympics, so the stakes are very high for them. Do they choose the side of safety and refuse to participate, throwing years of training and hard work down the drain? Or do they ignore the implications and take their chances? Unfortunately, most athletes have said that they will take their chances. One swimmer was quoted as saying, "America, I will swim in sh*t for you!" Now that's taking it a little too far!
I pray that all the world's athletes have a safe and healthy Olympic games in Rio, and that nobody gets sick from the toxins and pollutants. My other prayer is that the overwhelmed and underpaid Brazilian security forces can keep all our athletes safe!
Will you be watching the Olympics when they start in a few days? What are you most looking forward to seeing?
10 people like this
10 responses
@Mike197602 (15504)
• United Kingdom
3 Aug 16
I've got a bad feeling about this olympics.
Preparations have been an utter shambles from what I have seen.
Hope I'm very wrong but a stadium collapse springs to mind
Yes I'll be watching...I watch anything really but mainly the sprint events as that's what I did at school.
Yes I'll be watching...I watch anything really but mainly the sprint events as that's what I did at school.2 people like this

@moffittjc (128835)
• Gainesville, Florida
4 Aug 16
@Mike197602 They had a feature story on the news the other day that they are already having lots of problems in the athletes village. Fire, theft, vandalism, misplaced luggage, etc. They are not off to a good start.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128835)
• Gainesville, Florida
4 Aug 16
I've had several people tell me they have a bad feeling about this Olympics. I never even thought of a disaster such as a stadium collapse, but it is entirely possible. God, I hope something like that doesn't happen. I've been more worried about a terrorist attack more than anything.
2 people like this
@Mike197602 (15504)
• United Kingdom
4 Aug 16
@moffittjc someone on here was talking about a terrorist attack the other day and I said I thought it was unlikely but now I'm not so sure.
I think the buildings are substandard.
Saw pics of the athletes village the other day and I wouldn't let a dog live in there.
1 person likes this


@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
4 Aug 16
@moffittjc I bet that you do not miss any of the Women's Beach Volleyball.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128835)
• Gainesville, Florida
4 Aug 16
I try to watch as much as I can, but I won't alter my plans or go out of my way to be watching every single minute. Well, except maybe for swimming and gymnastics. Those are my two favorite events, and I don't want to miss watching them. And this year, my girlfriend's brother will be sailing for the US in the 49er class of sailboats. I'll definitely be watching that to cheer him on!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128835)
• Gainesville, Florida
4 Aug 16
@Asylum Goodness gracious, how in the world did I forget about women's volleyball? Yes, yes! Probably my absolute favorite Olympic sport!
1 person likes this

@moffittjc (128835)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Aug 16
I kid you not, that is the 'official' recommendation to the Olympic athletes!
@moffittjc (128835)
• Gainesville, Florida
4 Aug 16
"Sick" is the key word in your comment! As in, they're going to get sick! lol
@moffittjc (128835)
• Gainesville, Florida
4 Aug 16
If all the swimmers, rowers and triathletes banded together and refused to take part in their respective events in Brazil's polluted waters, the Olympic officials would have no choice but to fix the problem. The solution shouldn't be that hard, all they have to do is move those events to another nearby city where the water isn't polluted.
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64346)
• United Kingdom
4 Aug 16
@moffittjc Oh right - so it's just Rio that's polluted?
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128835)
• Gainesville, Florida
4 Aug 16
@jaboUK I'm sure the pollution is everywhere, but Rio is probably the worst since it is such a large city. The pollution probably wouldn't be as bad in some of the smaller towns or cities along the coast.
@akalinus (44366)
• United States
3 Aug 16
There is a problem with the water that is bigger than toxins. They have found super germs in the waterways and on the beaches. These germs do not respond to any known antiviral or antibiotics. These germs pose a serious health risk as they are usually only found in hospitals.
1 person likes this

@akalinus (44366)
• United States
4 Aug 16
@moffittjc The hospitals dump their waste into the waterways, apparently.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128835)
• Gainesville, Florida
4 Aug 16
@akalinus From what I saw on the news last night, everybody dumps their waste into the waterways! What is wrong with those people? I could understand 100 years ago engaging in that type of dumping, but in this day and age, we all know how bad and dangerous it is to pollute our waterways! Even the Brazilians should know that!
@moffittjc (128835)
• Gainesville, Florida
4 Aug 16
It's kind of scary to know that these super germs are lurking in locations outside of hospitals. It's only a matter of time before these super germs spread worldwide and start infecting millions and millions of people. Is this the next pandemic that researchers have been worried about for decades? You know it's only a matter of time before the next big worldwide disease outbreaks hits us and wipes out a third to half of the population.

@moffittjc (128835)
• Gainesville, Florida
4 Aug 16
I definitely will be watching as much as I can of every sport. I have never missed watching a summer or winter Olympics since 1980! The "Miracle on Ice" in the 1980 winter Olympics had me hooked ever since!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128835)
• Gainesville, Florida
4 Aug 16
@CRK109 I've always been a big fan of the winter Olympics as well. I guess for me, growing up on the beach in south Florida, there has always been something appealing about seeing winter sports that are very uncommon in Florida. It captivates me!
1 person likes this
@CRK109 (14556)
• United States
4 Aug 16
@moffittjc I definitely love the winter olympics more than summer. But I will watch to see how our athletes fare. And I hope and pray that nothing bad happens over there.
1 person likes this

@Poppylicious (11134)
• United Kingdom
4 Aug 16
I'll watch bits and pieces. I like the swimming and gymnastic floor routines. I am another who has a bad feeling about these Olympics. Let's just hope it is only a feeling and it will be okay. It is a bit ridiculous that they're basically asking professional athletes to put their health at risk. :(
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128835)
• Gainesville, Florida
4 Aug 16
I haven't had a bad feeling yet about these Olympics, but I do feel a little apprehensive about them. I just don't think Rio and the Brazilian government are ready for what's about to encapsulate their country. They're playing with the big boys now, on the world stage, and I don't think they're going to be able to handle it. I hope I'm wrong, and we shall soon enough see.
@Tierkreisze (1609)
• Philippines
4 Aug 16
These people have been training for years! Of course they wouldn't want to turn back. Still, they should have done something different instead of letting them swim in literal sh*t. Why not make a large swimming pool with a machine-created wave to simulate the ocean for triathletes? And they could also turn off the machine for other events.
And as for the rowers, they'd better wear diving suits complete with helmets to reduce exposure from the waste water.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128835)
• Gainesville, Florida
4 Aug 16
Or, why didn't they just move the swimming events to another city, one with less polluted waters. It's not unheard of for Olympic games to be spread out to several cities around the host city.











