(ATR) The Australian Olympic Committee has issued anti-viral condoms to athletes to protect them from spreading the Zika virus in Brazil.
The condoms are made by Starpharma, which contain an anti-viral lubricant known as VivaGel that has been shown to give protection against the sexual transmission of the Zika virus.
Australia chef de mission Kitty Chiller said in a statement that partnering with Starpharma shows "a common sense solution to a serious problem," that athletes could encounter in Rio de Janeiro.
Jackie Fairley, Starpharma Chief Executive, added in a statement that with the risk of sexual transmission and high rate of dormancy, "the potent activity of VivaGel against Zika could prove very significant," for Australian athletes.
Brazil is still feeling the effects of the serious outbreak of Zika that began heavily in the country’s northeast last year. The international community remains divided about the true impact the prolonged outbreak will have worldwide, although Rio organizers say that athletes will be protected during the Games.
Olympic Construction Begins on Copacabana Beach
The temporary stadium which will house beach volleyball is beginning to take shape.
Construction on the stadium began on May 13 when diggers began excavating sand to start the base of the structure.
Beach volleyball will have a 12,000 seat stadium on Copacabana beach during the Games. A total of eight courts will be erected for the Games. The competition court will be held in the main stadium, while five training courts and two warm-up courts will complete the beach facility.
Beach Volleyball held a test event in Rio in September 2015 where Olympic conditions were mimicked. A temporary facility was erected for the event, then dismantled after. The International Volleyball Federation brought a World Tour Grand Slam to Rio in March, for which another structure was assembled and disassembled without any issues.
While ticket sales for other sports have slumped, beach volleyball was one of the most sought out tickets for Brazilians. The country will be looking to have its first Olympic champion since 1996 for the women’s tournament and since 2004 for the men’s.
Written by Aaron Bauer in Rio de Janeiro
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