The current state of disarray over unfinished infrastructure at the site of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janiero, mixed with the city's financial emergency and the public health risks surrounding the Zika virus, have not fazed Marianne Vos from concentrating on the task of defending her title in the women's road race on August 7. The Dutch rider firmly believes that the venues will be ready and the show will go on, even if it comes down to the last minute.
"It doesn't matter where the Games are," Vos told Cyclingnews. "I follow the news, where the infrastructure is at, the health status with the Zika virus and all the construction problems, and struggles organisation-wise. I'm pretty sure that in the end, on August 5, everything will be right because these things happen at every Olympic Games."
The lead-up to this Olympic Games has been worrisome. To name a few reasons, the newly built bike path that parallels the road race course collapsed into the sea in April with five people reported missing and two reported dead.
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In June, Rio de Janeiro's city government announced that it had switched the construction contract for the velodrome to a new company after the previous firm had filed for bankruptcy protection. Although the construction of the velodrome was incomplete as of early June, organisers vowed to have the venue ready for riders to train on at the end of this month.
Brazil's public health has also been impacted by the outbreak of the Zika virus, a mosquito-borne virus linked to a surge in severe birth defects. Health concerns led American Tejay van Garderen to opt out of attending the Olympics. On this topic, Vos expressed her concern, too, and hopes that athletes and the public are safe from infection.
"I hope of course, health-wise, that the Zika virus won't be a problem for the athletes or people surrounding the Olympic Games, but politically every country has its issues. "
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