Live
Audio Only
Officials from Brazil are trying to assure the public and athletes that upcoming Rio games will be safe from the Zika mosquito virus, urging athletes who publically announced their non-attendance to reconsider.
RELATED:
Austerity for Some: Brazil Ups Military Spending for Olympics
“Our goal is that these representatives recommend to their athletes, coaches and tourists to attend the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro,” said Health Minister Ricardo Barros.
Barrios stressed that the risks of infection was very small during a meeting with ambassadors and Brazilian officials to update them on the fight against Zika.
“To all who, through the media, I see are in doubt about participating, I have sent letters with data informing them of the actions taken. It is important that we have here all the athletes at their best performance, so that the Olympics can identify the best athletes in the world,” Barros was quoted by Agencia Brasil.
The world's biggest sporting event will be held in Rio de Janeiro from August 5 to 21, with an estimated 17,000 athletes and a half-million spectators due to visit Rio for the games.
Ticket sales are down and a some athletes have decided against participating in the games, including golf world number one, Jason Day and a host of other top ranked golfers.
The World Health Organization said in June that there was a “very low risk” that the Zika virus would spread to other parts of the world from Brazil.
Health officials from Brazil claim that the rate of Zika infections has significantly declined, and that when the Olympics start they predict that infections will be almost zero.
Newsletter
