Cleanup of Rio’s bay for 2016 Olympics will fall short, officials say

To no great surprise, Brazilian officials acknowledged Friday that they will fall short of their goal to greatly decrease pollution in the waters where sailors and windsurfers will compete at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

Environmentalists have long voiced worries about the trash- and sewage-tainted Guanabara Bay.

The government had pledged to cut pollution flowing into the bay by 80% but Andre Correa, the state’s top environmental official, told reporters at a news conference that that percentage now appears unattainable.

Correa did not give an estimate of how much progress could be made between now and the summer of 2016, the Associated Press reported.

Sports officials have expressed concern about athletes becoming sick from competing in the bay.

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