(ATR) Chief executive Andy Hunt tells Around the Rings he is encouraged by progress to clean up the sewage-infested waters of Guanabara Bay.
Hunt returned from a trip to Rio earlier this week where the federation’s executive committee held meetings and site visits. On his five-day trip to the Olympic host city, he inspected the sailing venue and all race areas, the work to reduce the pollution as well as marina preparations.
The World Sailing leader returns to Rio in early March when he will meet with 2016 organisers, city authorities and Olympic stakeholders.
In the weeks ahead, the federation is planning to update NOCs on the preventative measures being taken to minimize pollution.
"The perception was quite low given all the reports we had and actually I was pleasantly surprised," he told ATR. "Out on the water, very little debris in any of the race areas or areas where boats racing or passing through."
At the marina, he had expected there to be a "fairly strong stench" given that sewage works are not completed. "There was no noticeable unpleasant smell in the marina," he said, adding that work at the marina is "really progressing" and will be ready for fit-out in two weeks’ time.
Confirming that sewage pollution works to restrict flow into the bay is slated to be finished in the middle of March, he sought to offer assurances to the IOC and sailors that the bay would be fit to stage a fantastic Olympic regatta.
"From everything I saw it looks like good progress is being made there," Hunt said, highlighting fish feeding in the water as "a positive sign".
"In the marina and water quality I think everything is being done that can be done at this time," he told ATR. "We need to keep the pressure on, we need to keep a close watching brief, continue all the testing regime we have. We need to put in place all the contingency plans we have operationally to make sure we deliver a safe and fair competition for the athletes."
Flamengo Beach, where the main viewing area is planned and launch site of windsurfing events and medal races, has come in for lots of criticism due to the contaminated waters.
Hunt visited the beach and was "very pleased" to see the situation was not as bad as he’d envisaged. Several hundred people were swimming in the water when he was there.
Looking ahead, he said Rio 2016 and Games stakeholders are "in a reasonable place" less than 200 days before the opening ceremony.
British two-time Olympic champion Sarah Gosling, who chairs the federation’s athletes' commission, was also "pleasantly surprised" with work to address the filthy waters of Guanabara Bay. Hunt reported World Sailing is busy implementing "a really thorough regime for testing and contingency to decide should pollution levels go above the threshold we believe is acceptable and in compliance of the World Health Organization we can make a call to move racing to one of the other race courses".
There are seven race courses available in total; four in the bay will be used for the Games. Three other courses are located in the ocean about a 40-minute tow for the boats where pollution levels are "not a problem". If wind conditions or sewage problems became issues, these courses would be used.
Amid the wave of cutbacks across the Rio 2016 Olympic project, triggered by the slump in Brazil’s economy, Hunt insisted the resources behind the massive pollution clean-up had not been affected.
"Always more can be done if you have unlimited resources," he said. "But given where we are, given all the testing we have undertaken and all the actions that are currently in place I feel confident that the right actions are being taken at this point in time between now and the Games. We need to make sure we stay on the plan."
He added: "At the end we will produce a great event for sailors. It will be a fantastic backdrop. It is a huge opportunity for sailing to be at the heart of the Olympic Games and will make a real difference for our
sport."
Reported by Mark Bisson
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