No Risks for Zika at Aquatics Venue

(ATR) Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Paes says he does not believe Zika will have an impact at the Aquatics Center in the Olympic Park.

Paes presented the fully renovated Maria Lenk Aquatics Center on Feb. 12. The center was built for the 2007 Pan American Games, and went through necessary renovations to accommodate three aquatics disciplines: diving, synchronized swimming, and water polo.

"I do not want to minimize that the Zika virus is a problem in Brazil, but it is not an Olympic issue," Paes told reporters. "We are taking precautions, giving the necessary explanations to show that we are doing everything to avoid any danger to any athlete or visitor who comes. I do not want to minimize Zika, but it is not an Olympic theme, is a theme in Brazil. It scares more by ignorance."

He added that he is sure that the mosquito population will be much less in August than it is during its peak in February, and that athletes will be protected.

Earlier this week, United States Women’s Football goalkeeper Hope Solo said to Sports Illustrated that if the Olympics were to start now she would not travel to Brazil for fear of her future health. Her comments prompted United States Olympic Committee chief executive Scott Blackmun to send a letter to all potential 2016 Olympians updating them on the current Zika information, and assure them the National Olympic Committee is taking all necessary steps to protect U.S. athletes.

When asked for a response, Mayor Paes told Around the Rings he was unaware of the comments, and added "you are talking about just one athlete."

"She said she’s not well informed, and she will be well informed," Paes added. "I am sure she is going to be here defending her country."

Paes also said he has full confidence that International Aquatics Federation leadership will be pleased with the upgrades to Maria Lenk. Last September, FINA officials sent a strongly worded letter to Rio officials bemoaning the state of Maria Lenk and how the federation was not receiving basic requirements it had asked for. FINA was unhappy with the seating capacity of Maria Lenk and the unclear status of where water polo preliminary matches would be held.

Eventually the two sides reached a compromise, which moved some water polo matches into Maria Lenk, keeping the sport wholly in the Olympic park. In addition, new warm up pools were built at the complex.

"My dearest friend (Cornel) Marculescu (FINA executive director)is coming tomorrow so I am sure that he is going to approve it," Paes said to ATR. "I haven’t spoken to him yet, but I will tomorrow. I have talked to the guys here, and they say it is fine, it is going to be perfect, and it is going to be a great venue."

Even if FINA officials give their final blessing on the venue, challenges remain for organizers as they must manage three aquatics disciplines in one venue for the first time ever. Rio 2016 aquatics venue manager Ricardo Prado told ATR that organizers remain confident they can manage the schedule, but unexpected weather delays are a worry no one can control.

"We are also confident that during the month of August, historically, we don’t have any real storms or anything," Prado added.

"Weather delays and really strong rains is what worry us the most. If it does [happen], we’ll do the necessary delays and we’ll do whatever it takes for the athletes."

August typically is a much drier month compared to the rest of the year in Rio, and temperatures are expected to be milder than the sweltering summers in Brazil.

Diving will hold a test event at Maria Lenk from Feb. 19-24, which will serve as the 2016 FINA Diving World Cup. At the event 272 athletes from 49 countries will be diving in Rio, which according to Prado will test the field of play and the new equipment installed in Maria Lenk.

Written by Aaron Bauer in Rio de Janeiro

20 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is AroundTheRings.com, for subscribers only.