It has been six years since the International Olympic Committee announced that Rio De Janeiro in Brazil would be hosting the 2016 Olympics. Since the confirmation, the city has been knee deep in preparation for the games. It has been decided that Barra da Tijuca will be hosting most of the Olympic and Paralympic games. the neighborhood would also be home to the Olympic village.
Unfortunately, an unforeseen threat may render the country's rigorous preparation for the Olympics futile. In 2015, Brazil was ravaged by the Zika Virus; leaving a million and a half of its residents infected. The virus has spread to over 30 countries and some athletes have since voiced out their concerns over the risk of contracting Zika during the games in August,
During a recent interview, Hope Solo, the U.S. soccer team's goalie, has expressed her worry over the rampant outbreak of Zika. According to her, there is a possibility that she might skip on this year's Olympics altogether.
"All I can do is speak for myself. If the Olympics were today, I would not go. Fortunately, the Olympics are six months away. So, I believe we have some time to get our doubts and questions answered' explained Solo.
The Brazilian government has since spoken out about the concern over the safety of the athletes and their crew during the Olympics. Brazil's president Dilma Rousseff is confident that by the time August rolls around, the threat of the Zika virus would be long over.
"We are confident that by the time the Olympics begin we will have considerable success in exterminating the mosquito" known as Aedes aegypti that transmits the virus" explained President Rousseff as reported by Yahoo News.
This year's summer Olympic games would be held in Rio de Janeiro on August 5 to 21, 2016.