Rio de Janeiro could see as many as 500,000 tourists for the Olympic Summer Games, which kick off on August 5. Many of those would-be travelers are apparently worried about their safety.
With fewer than 90 days before the opening ceremonies, Google reported the five most searched questions relating to safety.
"Is Rio safe for the Olympics?" & more top questions on the Olympics and safety #RoadToRio #87DaysToGo pic.twitter.com/0e6O9ZwlDq
— GoogleTrends (@GoogleTrends) May 10, 2016
So, is Rio safe for the Olympics?
As of May 10, the U.S. State Department had no travel warnings or alerts for Brazil. Still, as in any major city expecting an influx of foreigners, criminals will be prowling for prey.
TravelChannel.com advises: There are "areas that harbor small-time criminals, drug lords and even street-smart youngsters who have turned to petty theft as their primary source of income. And wide-eyed tourists can become prime targets if they aren’t careful." Find tips here.
Rio de Janeiro's state security secretary acknowledges that cuts of $550 million to his budget pose a risk to the Olympics when they open.
"If I said the cuts won't impact anything, I wouldn't be accurate," Jose Mariano Beltrame told The Associated Press during a sit-down interview this week. "I wish I could have more policemen. I wish they could work twice as much on the streets."
Beltrame said Rio will deploy about 65,000 policemen and up to 20,000 soldiers to guard the games, the largest contingent in Brazilian history. The number is about twice as large as London's force four years ago. Some of that effort is aimed at keeping gangs from hillside favelas from reaching Olympic venues.
Another issue of concern is the Zika virus. In mid-April Rio de Janeiro Olympic officials expressed confidence that measures in place will protect visitors when the games open.
The focus on Zika returned to the Olympics after United States health officials said enough evidence exists to say the virus causes babies to be born with abnormally small heads.
"We'll continue to follow the advice and guidance of the World Health Organization to the letter," Rio spokesman Mario Andrada said on Thursday. "And we'll continue to keep our partners informed, including the national Olympic committees and the international federations, about information regarding the Zika issue."
Rio officials say:
- stagnant water is being drained around venues
- air conditioning will be installed in the athletes' village
- visitors will be encouraged to use repellent and wear long sleeves and trousers
- officials are hopeful the cooler, drier weather when the games open will reduce the mosquito population.
What about the pollution problem?
In April, police investigators took samples at some of Rio de Janeiro's largest sewage treatment plants on Thursday to determine whether the facilities are actually treating sewage.
Police also collected documents in the surprise sting at least six plants. The material collected will help authorities decide whether to bring charges against Rio's state water and sewage utility, Cedae, for allegedly dumping raw or minimally treated sewage into the city's waterways, police investigator Marcelo Prudente said at a news conference.
According to an ESPN article, "some of the untreated human waste that has long fouled Rio's beaches and docks and picturesque lagoon will be diverted from competitive venues so the athletes who have to navigate them need not worry."
"Government and organizing committee officials long ago dropped the pretense that the bid's targets for reducing pollution would be met." ESPN.go.com
