ZIMBABWEAN athletes led by the country’s most decorated Olympian of all time, Kirsty Coventry, say they are not worried about the Zika virus as they prepare for the Rio 2016 Olympics.
BY DANIEL NHAKANISO
The Rio Olympics — which take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from August 5 to 21— are being staged against a backdrop of fears about the mosquito-borne Zika virus, with thousands of cases reported in Brazil.
Pregnant women are thought to be at particular risk of the virus due to a link with microcephaly — a birth defect which can cause babies to be born with small heads and under-developed brains.
However, Zimbabwe’s double Olympic backstroke champion and seven-time Olympic medalist Coventry recently revealed that she was also not worried by the outbreak, adding that she still intends to travel to Rio as she chases more Olympic success.
“My aims and goals are still set on going to Rio and competing,” the 32-year-old Zimbabwean told BBC World recently.
“I think we athletes are going to be safe. There is no sense of putting on the brakes in terms of trying to get to Rio.
“It seems like a terrible virus, especially for pregnant women, but I believe there is enough time to get a better understanding of what is going on.”
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US-based sprinter, Gabriel Mvumvure told Standardsport in an interview that he was more concerned about the families affected by the deadly virus than participating in Rio. “I am more of an optimistic kind of guy so I am not worried. There are always problems present when a big event like the Olympics is about to start. In 2008, China had problems with pollution but that didn’t stop the Olympics at all.
“The 1936 Olympics took place, despite the fact that it was an unstable time for many countries against Adolf Hitler. I’m pretty sure they will figure things out before all athletes show up in Brazil. If I have any concerns they are not about the Zika virus, but about the families that were probably dispersed due to the building of infrastructure for the Olympics.”
Female long-distance runner Rutendo Nyahora — who qualified for her Olympics at the Vienna Marathon last Sunday — said she was confident the organisers would put the necessary measures in place to ensure the safety of athletes.
“Yes, I have been hearing about the Zika virus, but personally, I don’t have any fears of going to the Rio Olympics. The Olympics is a major sporting event and I have faith and confidence that the organisers will put in the necessary measures to ensure that all athletes are safe,” she said.
Mighty Warriors captain Felistas Muzongondi admitted that she does not know much about the Zika virus, but said she would seek to find out more before she can press the panic button.
“Honestly, I don’t know much about this Zika virus. I have only heard stories of its outbreak in Brazil from news reports but I will try to find out more from our health experts, including the risk that is involved in going there then I can comment better. As it stands, all we know is we qualified for the Olympic Games in Brazil and we are looking forward to the competition,” Muzongondi said.
The Zimbabwe Olympic Committee (ZOC) recently revealed that they would continue to monitor developments in Brazil. “The issue of the Zika virus is of grave concern to all national associations who have teams or potential teams or athletes planning to travel to Rio for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games,” ZOC medical commission chair Margie Gibson said.
“The IOC (Olympic Committee) remains confident that there will be a safe environment for successful Olympic Games. Zoc will continue to monitor this issue and provide the national associations with updates. The safety and well-being of our athletes is of paramount importance.”
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared the Zika virus a global public health emergency As no vaccine or treatment exists for the virus. However, the IOC has said Rio will be safe and venues will be inspected daily before and during the games to minimise the impact of the virus.
Last week Fiji’s former world number one golfer Vijay Singh became the latest high profile sporting figure to announce that he would not be competing at the Rio Olympics, amid his concerns about the Zika virus. Golfchannel.com quoted the 53-year-old as saying he felt bad about not attending, but was concerned about Zika and wanted to concentrate on the PGA Tour.
“The timing of it, you know I have to focus over here,” he said. “I would like to play the Olympics, but the Zika virus, you know and all that crap.”
