Dangers Of The Zika Virus In Brazil

The four year wait for the summer Olympics is finally over. The athletes and spectators are all ready to head to Brazil. The only thing that seems to be in the way is the recent outbreak of the zika virus. This virus seems to being running rampant throughout many of the South American countries including Brazil. The effects and spread of the virus is a concern for the athletes, spectators, and many others. The question raised by many is how to handle this situation with the Olympics only a few months away. The athletes have been training so hard over the last few years to get to this point and do not have any idea of the games will go on as scheduled. Also those who have made plans to go watch the Olympics now have to think and be cautious

about a very serious virus when in Brazil. The host country is also at stake because of all the money they have spent to set up for the games and for all the renovations made throughout the country for the Olympics. The zika virus is really putting a dampened mood on the Olympics and could ruin this spectacular event. Although the zika virus is very serious and easily transferable, the summer Olympics should go on as planned because of the effort, time and money put in by all those involved with the games.
The major selling point and focus of the Olympics revolves around the elite athletes competing in all different events. They have spent the last four years training to get them to the Olympics. They prepare themselves specifically for the environment in Brazil and for the time period which they will be down there. Changing one or both of those things can really throw an athlete off in the way they compete in that specific event. If the athletes are not up to their personal best it really takes away from the events. Competitive events are what people want to see and expect from these athletes. A track and field coach from England said “the time invested has been huge, from training six hours a day to traveling all the way to Brazil to train in the conditions. Changing the Olympics now would make all the work put in a waste of time.” This athletes seem to want to participate in the games as scheduled and since they are the main selling point, their opinion should be highly considered and followed.
The next problem that will be avoided would be the issue of all the people who have made plans to travel to Brazil to see their country compete in the Olympic Games. Seeing the Olympics in person is a dream for many people because of how special the games are and the entire experience people get when they go and watch the Olympics. People have had the plans to travel to Brazil for a while now and changing plans last minute would really cause a major problem. They would have to cancel their flights, hotels, and anything else they booked for their trip. This could cause people to lose money from canceling flights at the last minute or would just cause the person a lot of stress that they must likely did not want to go through. Also for some people this could be the only time they could make the Olympics because of their jobs, illness, or other situations. Keeping the Olympics in Brazil this summer would make all the travel plans people made worth it. Planning for four years to go to Brazil would finally be a reality for those going. They get to represent their country at one of the greatest and most special sporting event in the world.
What makes the Olympics so special is how it is every four years in August. Brazil has spent the last four years planning and putting together this spectacular event. The money that has been put into everything needed has been enormous. Everything has been scheduled and some items were rushed just so they were ready for the Olympics to happen in August. Representative for the Olympic Games said “postponing or moving the Olympics because of the zika virus is much harder than it sounds and in some ways would really finically hurt every party that is involved.” This is just one of probably many statements about the timing of the Olympics and changing it ever so slightly could be a huge loss in money. The Olympics and their organization needs to make money from the Olympics because they pay countries that compete in the games. They also help with building and security fees for the country. If they do not get enough money many people would be affected by thing because many of the places rely on the money that they get from the Olympics. Besides on putting on a spectacular show for the world to see, the finical burdens that are made really play apart in how the Olympics run.
Considering the reasons why the Olympics should go on from an athletic and financial view part, the dangers of the zika virus still exist?

Some argue that postponing the Olympics is a good idea until the virus is under control. A postponement would bring much more stress and could bring more issues than the issues currently at hand. The endorsements and television rights that have been in place for over a year and now they would have to change everything around to fit the new date of the Olympics. The television times that were set for the networks now have to be changed and if they cannot change the network would lose millions of dollars and the rights for the Olympics. The endorsements from major companies are in question because many of have other duties to take care of. Many sponsors love the timing of the Olympics because it is in August when there is no other major event in the world are going on. If the Olympics were postponed it would then conflicts with company’s endorsements on other events they sponsor like the NFL, NBA or NHL just to name a few. It would really the companies which event to focus on and make them possible lose millions of

dollars.
Postponement would also bring problems for Brazil and the Olympic organizes because they have been planning for this date for the last four years. Once the Olympics ended in 2012 in London the focus immediately went to Brazil. Everything they have been planning is now a complete waste because of the postponement. They would now been put on the clock to get everything they originally had in place to be moved to the new date. This could cause a decline in the quality of the Olympics and the experience that will been seen by so many.
Now postponement is not the only idea people have been throwing around. The next idea is moving the Olympics to a different country so the Olympics go on at the originally assigned date. Moving to a new country without zika does sound logical when first hearing it, but when people see the amount of time and effort doing this move would be extremely difficult. Most people find moving houses is difficult now think of those who would have to move one of the world’s biggest sporting events to a new country. The new country would also have to be willing to have the Olympics moved there. The country would have to spend millions to get ready and would have many issues that are currently Brazil’s problems put on them and probably more because there is a certain expectation for the Olympics and if it is not met the consequences can be very damaging.
The moving to a new country would also be devastating to Brazil and everything they have done. Brazil has poured in millions of dollars and put financial strain because much of the money used has been hard to get and owe much of the money back. Now being told the Olympics is being moved could really destroy their economy. They have been hoping to make all the money back and even more. Moving the Olympics would make all the money put into the Brazil Olympics would be a complete waste and is something Brazil could not get back. A move to a new country would not cause major issues right away, but would get worse over time.
Now with March just beginning the Olympics is only a few months away.

Instead of talking about the competition and how great it will be, people have been more concerned about the recent outbreak of zika and side effects it has. Many are showing concern and are calling for action because they want to feel safe when going to Brazil. Many options have been tossed around and considered. The most logical and best outcome would have the Olympics go on as scheduled. The results that would happen because of this would have the best outcome. The zika virus could be contained and controlled when people are there. People would just have to take precautions and everything can be controlled. Also pregnant woman should be the ones who should not go because of how it could affect their kid. All people have to do it put trust in the Olympic organizers because their first priority is the safety of all going to Brazil and if they still support the Olympics going on this summer in Brazil then everyone else should support their decision. It would just be up to every person to use every precaution that is available to them and everything will be just fine. Everyone should now just start thinking about the wonderful Olympic Games that are coming up because before people realize it they will be over and everyone will have to wait another four years for the next

one.