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Sewage taking over site of sailing, windsurfing at 2016 Olympics

A bird flies next to garbage in the Guanabara Bay in Rio de Janeiro
A bird flies next to garbage in the Guanabara Bay in Rio de Janeiro March 12, 2014. According to the local media, the city of Rio de Janeiro continues to face criticism locally and abroad that the bodies of water it plans to use for competition in the 2016 Olympic Games are too polluted to host events. Untreated sewage and trash frequently find their way into the Atlantic waters of Copacabana Beach and Guanabara Bay - both future sites to events such as marathon swimming, sailing and triathlon events. Picture taken on March 12, 2014. REUTERS/Sergio Moraes (BRAZIL - Tags: ENVIRONMENT SPORT OLYMPICS ANIMALS) (REUTERS)
A toy doll is seen on Fundao beach in the Guanabara Bay in Rio de Janeiro
A toy doll is seen on Fundao beach in the Guanabara Bay in Rio de Janeiro March 13, 2014. According to the local media, the city of Rio de Janeiro continues to face criticism locally and abroad that the bodies of water it plans to use for competition in the 2016 Olympic Games are too polluted to host events. Untreated sewage and trash frequently find their way into the Atlantic waters of Copacabana Beach and Guanabara Bay - both future sites to events such as marathon swimming, sailing and triathlon events. REUTERS/Sergio Moraes (BRAZIL - Tags: ENVIRONMENT SPORT OLYMPICS) (REUTERS)
A fisherman cleans his boat on Fundao beach in the Guanabara Bay in Rio de Janeiro
A fisherman cleans his boat on Fundao beach in the Guanabara Bay in Rio de Janeiro March 13, 2014. According to the local media, the city of Rio de Janeiro continues to face criticism locally and abroad that the bodies of water it plans to use for competition in the 2016 Olympic Games are too polluted to host events. Untreated sewage and trash frequently find their way into the Atlantic waters of Copacabana Beach and Guanabara Bay - both future sites to events such as marathon swimming, sailing and triathlon events. REUTERS/Sergio Moraes (BRAZIL - Tags: ENVIRONMENT SPORT OLYMPICS) (REUTERS)
A fisherman works in Fundao beach in the Guanabara Bay in Rio de Janeiro
A fisherman works in Fundao beach in the Guanabara Bay in Rio de Janeiro March 13, 2014. According to the local media, the city of Rio de Janeiro continues to face criticism locally and abroad that the bodies of water it plans to use for competition in the 2016 Olympic Games are too polluted to host events. Untreated sewage and trash frequently find their way into the Atlantic waters of Copacabana Beach and Guanabara Bay - both future sites to events such as marathon swimming, sailing and triathlon events. REUTERS/Sergio Moraes (BRAZIL - Tags: ENVIRONMENT SPORT OLYMPICS) (REUTERS)
Brazilian biologist Mario Moscatelli takes pictures next to garbage at Pombeba island in the Guanabara Bay in Rio de Janeiro
Brazilian biologist Mario Moscatelli takes pictures next to garbage at Pombeba island in the Guanabara Bay in Rio de Janeiro March 12, 2014. According to the local media, the city of Rio de Janeiro continues to face criticism locally and abroad that the bodies of water it plans to use for competition in the 2016 Olympic Games are too polluted to host events. Untreated sewage and trash frequently find their way into the Atlantic waters of Copacabana Beach and Guanabara Bay - both future sites to events such as marathon swimming, sailing and triathlon events. Picture taken on March 12, 2014. REUTERS/Sergio Moraes (BRAZIL - Tags: ENVIRONMENT SPORT OLYMPICS) (REUTERS)
Garbage is seen near a fishing boat on Fundao beach in the Guanabara Bay in Rio de Janeiro
Garbage is seen near a fishing boat on Fundao beach in the Guanabara Bay in Rio de Janeiro March 13, 2014. According to the local media, the city of Rio de Janeiro continues to face criticism locally and abroad that the bodies of water it plans to use for competition in the 2016 Olympic Games are too polluted to host events. Untreated sewage and trash frequently find their way into the Atlantic waters of Copacabana Beach and Guanabara Bay - both future sites to events such as marathon swimming, sailing and triathlon events. REUTERS/Sergio Moraes (BRAZIL - Tags: ENVIRONMENT SPORT OLYMPICS) (REUTERS)
A pipe is seen near a fishing boat on Fundao beach in the Guanabara Bay in Rio de Janeiro
A pipe is seen near a fishing boat on Fundao beach in the Guanabara Bay in Rio de Janeiro March 13, 2014. According local media, the city of Rio de Janeiro continues to face criticism locally and abroad that the bodies of water it plans to use for competition in the 2016 Olympic Games are too polluted to host events. Untreated sewage and trash frequently find their way into the Atlantic waters of Copacabana Beach and Guanabara Bay - both future sites to events such as marathon swimming, sailing and triathlon events. REUTERS/Sergio Moraes (BRAZIL - Tags: ENVIRONMENT SPORT OLYMPICS) (REUTERS)

We're still more than two years out from the Olympics, but the Rio-isn't-ready stories are flying faster Usain Bolt on a Red Bull latte. No, London won't be getting the Games back, but short of that, everything else is apparently on the table to get these Olympics off the ground.

Now comes word that Guanabera Bay, future site of sailing and windsurfing events, is a trash-strewn nightmare, a dumpsite for 80 to 100 tons of Rio de Janeiro's trash each day. Add to that the fact that only about 40 percent of sewage is treated, with the remainder going straight into the water system, and you've got the foundation for an epic public health/public relations/public image nightmare.
Jay Busbee