OLYMPICS-RIO/TEST-SAILING Olympic windsurfer says Rio water quality could prevent his competing

Record ID: 143862

  • Title: OLYMPICS-RIO/TEST-SAILING Olympic windsurfer says Rio water quality could prevent his competing
  • Date: 16th August 2015
  • Summary: RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL (AUGUST 15, 2015) (REUTERS) VIEW OF GUANABARA BAY FROM THE WATER WINDSURFING TEST EVENT IN PROGRESS VARIOUS OF WINDSURFERS RIGGING THEIR SAILS VARIOUS OF TAIWANESE WINDSURFER, HOWARD CHANG HAO, RIGGING HIS SAIL (SOUNDBITE) (English) TAIWANESE WINDSURFER, HOWARD CHANG HAO, SAYING: "My coach told me if there are strong winds I must not go out because I
  • Embargoed: 31st August 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Brazil
  • Country: Brazil
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVAEZZ5QRBH9XQCNN9CNQZGT7E7Q
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: The water quality at Rio de Janeiro's Olympic sailing course was still proving an issue for some competitors as the second round of test events in the sport began on Saturday (August 15), after high levels of disease-causing viruses were detected in recent tests.
    Taiwanese windsurfer Howard Chang Hao said that depending on weather conditions on the Guanabara Bay, the health risks may deter him from taking part in the test event.
    "My coach told me if there are strong winds I must not go out because I have chance to drink the water. In my country we have seen reports which are very scary, because if I have some problem I can't get a qualification in Oman World Championships so if there's strong wind I'm not going out," Hang Chao told Reuters as he rigged up his sails.
    The Associated Press reported that 13 members of the 40-member U.S. team fell ill after the world junior rowing championships, a test event for the 2016 Games held in waters near to the bay.
    U.S. officials confirmed to Reuters that 15 members took ill but said that was not unusual in international events and it was too early to blame dirty water.
    A spokesperson for Rio 2016, who asked not to be named, said "everything suggests" the diarrhoea was caused by familiar travel woes rather than dirty water.
    Many athletes have sought to play down the issue, whilst others focused on their plan of attack.
    "In sailing something that we always do is to try to put yourself on top of the other person in to block the wind, or you can pass on "dirty wind" which is weaker so that they go slower," said the recent Formula Experience world vice-champion, Eduardo Herman of Chile.
    The first round of sailing test events took place in August last year. The second round will run for one week until August 22, with some 55 countries and 380 competing athletes.
    The first day involved Windsurfing and the One Person Dinghy in both men's and women's divisions. The rest of the week will see competitions in the Two Person Dinghy and Skiff in both men's and women's divisions, as well as the Mixed Multihull and the Men's One Person Dinghy Heavyweight.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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