(ATR) An underwater containment belt is being installed in the Marina da Gloria in Rio de Janeiro.
The government of Rio de Janeiro and Rio 2016 unveiled the sewage treatment project on Tuesday at Rio 2016 headquarters.
Marina da Gloria serves as the launch point for boats entering the competition area in Guanabara Bay.
An inland underground pipeline will be constructed as well as a sewage pumping station that can treat 450 liters of water per second. The aim of the project is to treat water before it reaches Marina da Gloria and Guanabara Bay.
Construction is expected to last one year and could begin next week according to a report from the Associated Press.
"In the last three years, the competition areas were already of international standard, due to various initiatives that have been developed in Guanabara Bay," Wagner Victer, the president of Rio’s state water and sanitation company, said in a statement provided by Rio 2016.
"The only point lacking was at the area where the boats embark, at Marina da Glória."
Rio’s sailing venue has been criticized for the raw sewage that flows into the bay, despite assurances from the government and the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) that the venue meets international requirements.
ISAF head of competition Alastair Fox said at the Aquece Rio test event that "the water quality has met Brazilian standards and international standards."
Last month, the Rio de Janeiro government announced that 50 percent of sewage that reaches Guanabara Bay had been treated, and is on track to reach the goal of 80 percent it set forth when bidding for the Games.
"We are pleased to see these projects happening because Guanabara Bay is one of the picture-postcard sites of the Games," Rio 2016 president Carlos Nuzman said in a statement.
"All these efforts will create a unique setting for Olympic sailing."
Written by Aaron Bauer
Homepage photo: Rio 2016
20 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is AroundTheRings.com, for subscribers only.
Últimas Noticias
Boxing’s place in the Olympics remains in peril as IOC still unhappy with the state of AIBA’s reform efforts
The IOC says issues concerning governance, finance, and refereeing and judging must be sorted out to its satisfaction. AIBA says it’s confident that will happen and the federation will be reinstated.
McLaren report to FIBA confirms abuses in the Mali women’s basketball program
The investigation could not “independently verify” allegations against FIBA president Hamane Niang, who has resumed his duties after stepping aside during the probe.
ATR Extra: 1st ISF U15 World School Sport Games – Belgrade 2021
Olympic Channel is live streaming the basketball, basketball 3x3, football, judo and wrestling competitions during the event, which runs September 11-19.
International Judo Federation bans Algerian athlete and coach for 10 years for refusing to fight an Israeli at Tokyo 2020
Judoka Fethi Nourine and his coach Amar Benikhlef admitted they were withdrawing from competition to avoid a potential match with Tohar Butbul of Israel.
IIHF bans Belarus hockey president for five years for code of conduct violations - Federation Focus
Also: no contested election for next ITTF president; BWF calendar shrinks as event in India cancelled due to pandemic; FISU announces early bids for 2027 and 2029 World University Games
