Report: Waters in Rio where Olympians will compete rife with sewage

Nypost.com reports: The waters where Olympians will compete in swimming and boating events next summer in South America’s first games are rife with human sewage and present a serious health risk for athletes, as well as for visitors to the iconic beaches of Rio de Janeiro. An Associated Press investigation found dangerously high levels of viruses and bacteria from sewage in venues where athletes will compete in the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic water sports. In the first independent comprehensive testing for both viruses and bacteria at the Olympic sites, the AP conducted four rounds of tests starting in March. The results have alarmed international experts and dismayed competitors training in Rio, some of whom have already fallen ill with fevers, vomiting and diarrhea. These ailments could knock an athlete out for days, potentially curtailing Olympics dreams and the years of hard training behind them. “This is by far the worst water quality we’ve ever seen in our sailing careers,” said Ivan Bulaja, a coach for the Austrian team, which has spent months training on Guanabara Bay. “I am quite sure if you swim in this water and it goes into your mouth or nose, that quite a lot of bad things are coming inside your body.” Sailor David Hussl has already fallen ill. “I’ve had high temperatures and problems with my stomach,” Hussl said. “It’s always one day completely in bed and then usually not sailing for two or three days.” Water pollution has long plagued Brazil’s urban areas, where most sewage isn’t collected, let alone treated...