Seth Vigdor
The former CEO of World Sailing says he was fired for trying to get rid of polluted Guanabara Bay as the sailing venue for this year’s Summer Olympics. The Olympics are to be held in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, and Peter Sowrey tried pushed to have the venue changed due to the polluted waters, but according to the Associated Press, he was told to “gag” himself on the subject.
That’s just fantastic! I realize in most cases we’re talking about a lifelong dream for many of these athletes to participate in the Olympics. However, they shouldn’t have to perform in polluted waters and it’s a disgrace that they may even have to.
A report from Time back in December detailed results of tests on the water that were conducted by the AP. Here’s an excerpt from Time‘s report:
Tests conducted by the Associated Press suggest that areas to be used during Olympic competition are filled with pathogens that can damage human health. Sewage and industrial waste empties into the water surrounding the city. The level of pollution would likely result in the closure of the beaches in the U.S. or Europe, according to the report.”
The AP tests revealed further disturbing details.
Those virus levels are widespread. It’s not just along the shoreline but it’s elsewhere in the water, therefore it’s going to increase the exposure of the people who come into contact with those waters,” said Kristina Mena, an expert in waterborne viruses and an associate professor of public health at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. “We’re talking about an extreme environment, where the pollution is so high that exposure is imminent and the chance of infection very likely.”
Back to Sowrey who served his post for only five months, he had this to say about the board’s feelings about him.
The board felt I was way too aggressive. They basically voted me out. I didn’t resign. The board finally told me to leave.”
Yeah, Sowrey really sounds like an awful guy pushing for what most reasonable humans would agree is only right. I mean looking at these pictures, who in their right mind would say that it’s okay for anyone to be in those waters.
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This photo is via Matthew Stockman/Getty Images South America:
Who is up for swimming with dead fish as this photo from Google Images indicates?
Sowrey made one huge acknowledgement. He admitted that he had little experience in dealing with the politics that drive international sports federations.
That right there tells you all that you need to know. When the word “politics” is mentioned we all know that at the end of the day, it’s all about money. Athletes be damned, the powers that be want a piece of the pie in some shape, form or fashion.
There is no way that any athletes should risk their health to compete in the Olympics. This is a disgrace and trust me when I tell you that you haven’t heard the last of this. The United States athletes should lead a boycott of this event immediately.