As the 2016 Olympics games are underway, everyone is enjoying watching incredibly talented athletes represent their countries in the sports they are passionate about. Even though the Olympic Committee try their hardest to make sure everything goes smoothly, things go wrong. There was more pressure during this Olympics than any other due to the immense controversy about the safety and overall quality of the chosen venue, Rio de Janeiro, but things happen and many things definitely happened in the first week of the Olympics to prove that no amount of planning can prevent mishaps. Here is what has gone wrong so far in the 2016 Summer Olympics.
1. Serbian rowing team capsizes into contaminated river.
On the first day of the Olympics, Serbian rowing duo capsized into the Rodrigo de Frietas Lagoon due to intense wind and choppy water that was contaminated with garbage and wastes. While the pair were in the water and being helped by officials, they were told to keep their heads above water and their mouths closed. Although it is very rare for a rowing team to capsize (no other team has capsized since the 2004 Olympics), it's unacceptable to put athletes in danger in the event that they do, because things happen.
2. Cycling athletes getting many injuries on treacherous course.
The course of women and men's cycling was one of the most dangerous courses in Olympic history. The reason for the high danger in this course was not because of the two enormous climbs for women and four for men up the Grota Funda and Grumari, but the descents following these climbs. As the cyclists are descending at over 40 miles per hour and trying to dodge multiple roadblocks, such as sharp turns, cobblestone pavement and other cyclists, sometimes things go wrong; and in these races many things went wrong. Many male and female racers (Richie Porte, Vincenzo Nibali, Annemiek van Vleuten, and Sergio Henao) had collided or biked off the road causing multiple injuries and bone fractures, resulting in some becoming hospitalized. After all the injuries and problems caused from the decent, some organizers for the Olympics are claiming that the course should never have been used.
3. Diving pool turns green.
This problem is self-explanatory: the pool which is used for diving in the aquatics center turned green. The cause of the color change was due to algae buildup due to the heat and low air circulation throughout the building. After various testing of the water, it was concluded that it wasn't dangerous to the athletes, but still very gross.
4. Theft and poor living conditions.
Not only were all athletes living in poor conditions with less than satisfactory security, but out of all the athletes, the Australians underwent a situation which put them over the edge. Australian athletes refused to stay in their assigned living destination due to dangers, such as leaking pipes and exposed wires so they were moved to adjacent hotels while staff members were fixing the problems. After they moved back into their original hotel, a fire in their building forced the Australians to evacuate. In the time the athletes were evacuated, their rooms were robbed with their laptops and clothes being stolen.
Other situations which supported the poor living conditions and inferior security include a cameraman being robbed and all his equipment being stolen, no hot water, and missing amenities such as shower heads.
5. Drama between swimmers.
There were two major stories that caused the media to roar between various swimmers of the United States and other countries.
The first event that caught the eye of many fans of the United States swimming team was the many encounters between American Lilly King and Russian swimmer Yulia Efimova. Efimova had been suspended for using sports-enhancement drugs. In a semifinal race of the 100 meter breaststroke after Efimova had won, she waved her finger showing to the world that she thought she was the best swimmer of this event. King showed her dislike of the fact that she had been using drugs and is still able to compete in the Olympics when she made a statement saying metaphorically to Efimova, "You wave your finger No. 1 and you've been caught drug cheating? I'm not a fan". King not only retaliated verbally towards Efimova, but she also retaliated physically in the final 100 meter breaststroke when King won the gold medal and broke an Olympic record while Efimova took the silver medal in second place. Efimova had no comment towards what King had said in her statement.
The second dramatic event between swimmers was on Monday betweel Michael Phelps and Chad le Clos. These two individuals have a long history with this event due to the upset in the 2012 London Olympics when le Clos won gold in this event over Phelps and ever since Phelps had no other mission but to win gold this year. Right before the two competed in the 200 meter butterfly final as the two athletes were getting prepared for the race, le Clos and Phelps had an interesting encounter. As both Phelps and le Clos were in the waiting room, le Clos shadowboxed right in front of Phelps as a way to intimidate him right before the race. Phelps' responce was not only completely appropriate, but also hilarious.
6. Hope Solo booed by Brazilians at soccer match.
Another cause for concern of having the 2016 Olympics in Rio is the sudden outbreak of the Zika virus with many people in this area being infected with the virus. Some athletes have decided to not participate in the Olympics due to the fear of contracting the virus. Those athletes that have decided to compete in Rio, such as The United States soccer player Hope Solo, are taking major precautions to protect themselves from Zika. U.S soccer player Hope Solo posted these two pictures on Twitter showing her fans how she is protecting herself with a mosquito net and multiple repellants. Apparently these posts on social media did not go well with Brazilian soccer fans. Each time she touched the ball during the match, she would be booed as the Brazilians thought her actions were disrespectful to the people living in Rio and other places in which the Zika virus is cause for concern.
With only a week complete of the Olympics, there definitely will be more drama and media-shattering events in store from Rio in the days to come.
