#rio – The Irish Sailing Association (ISA) has condemed the 2016 Olympic regatta venue a 'health hazard'.
According to a report by Johnny Watterson in this morning's Irish Times, the ISA's Olympic chief James O'Callaghan has requested that funding be made available for a doctor to come with them in their next visit to the Rio de Janeiro venue to assess possible health concerns associated with the 'untreated sewage' in the water. More on this story here.
It follows earlier reports on Afloat.ie last December from Irish sailing coach Ian Barker who also slammed the venue.
Other nations have also expressed disgust at the filthy state of the Brazilian waters in which they will race at the 2016 Olympics, with the Irish coach and former British star describing it as a "sewer".
O'Callaghan, who travelled to the venue last Summer believes the health risk to be so significant that the doctor may require all team members on the water to be immunised against a variety of possible infections and illnesses.