OLYMPICS-RIO/TEST-ROWING Olympic rowing test event gets underway in Rio despite water quality concerns

Record ID: 144846

  • Title: OLYMPICS-RIO/TEST-ROWING Olympic rowing test event gets underway in Rio despite water quality concerns
  • Date: 6th August 2015
  • Summary: RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL (AUGUST 06, 2015) (REUTERS) ATHLETES FROM CHINA CHEERING ON THEIR TEAMMATES AS THEY ROW DURING THE OLYMPIC TEST EVENT ROWERS IN A DOUBLES RACE SPRINTING TO THE FINISH LINE ROWERS CELEBRATING THEIR TIME ON THE WATER PEOPLE WATCHING THE EVENT FROM THE STANDS WITH FLAGS FROM VARIOUS COUNTRIES HANGING FROM RAILS NORWEGIAN FANS WAVING THE NORWEGIAN FLAG F
  • Embargoed: 21st August 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Brazil
  • Country: Brazil
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVAWXAEOC8RBE7PVI4MJVEE3OR7
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Rowers from around the world took part in the 2015 World Rowing Junior Championships in Rio de Janeiro on Thursday (August 6), the first major rowing test event ahead of the 2016 Olympics Rio will host.
    The test event comes despite concerns of contaminated water at the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon in southern Rio, the same venue that will host Olympic athletes when the Olympics get underway in just one calendar year.
    The waters off the Atlantic coast have been filthy for decades and Rio promised to reduce pollution by 80 percent in the bay where sailing, triathlon and open water swimming will take place.
    But independent studies released last week showed dangerously high levels of viruses and bacteria and officials admit they will not meet that target.
    FISA, the World Rowing Federation, has posted on their website that they are aware of the study, but concluded "there is no significant additional risk to athlete health."
    A development coach with Rowing Canada, Chuck McDiarmid, said team Canada was still taking extra precautions.
    "You have to respect and accept the information FISA (the International Rowing Federation) is telling us about the water quality. And obviously it's a concern that we want our athletes to be healthy. However, we're taking precautions to make sure that if there is contamination that it's not going to cross over to our athletes. We're making sure that they wash their hands and have another layer between their water bottles and the water, so we put them in bags, but so far it's been good for us," McDiarmid said.
    Water concerns aside, the second day of the Juniors Championships turned out to be a great day for rowing.
    The boathouse used by the athletes is the same facility that will be used by Olympic athletes next year.
    Officials are using the event to test all aspects of the competition, including weather conditions this time of year, one year before the Olympics.
    David Neubauer, an Austrian doubles rower, said he was not thinking too much about all the controversy.
    "We just want to win," said Neubauer.
    Rosalind Wilson of the British Women's pair said she was taken aback by the beautiful back drop Rio has to offer.
    "It's quite crazy being out here, with the Jesus statue looking down at you and it's such a pretty environment it's hard to find your focus on the race. But once you get into it, it's just like any other environment. It's still very competitive. Just a little bit hotter than we're used to. No, it's great. The Olympics are going to be really cool here," Wilson said.
    The 2016 Olympics kick off in Rio on August 5, 2016.
    The organizing committee has said it does not plan to move water sport competitions to different locations despite health concerns that have been raised by some.
    2015 World Rowing Junior Championships will run here through August 9.
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