PALO ALTO, Calif. — Like most Olympic hosts, Rio de Janeiro finds itself in a push to finish preparations for the Games. Unlike most, though, Brazil finds itself mired in myriad crises independent of the Olympics that threaten to deflect the spotlight from the athletes and competitions when the Games open six months from Friday.
Those broader concerns are on the radar for the International Olympic Committee, said president Thomas Bach in an interview with USA TODAY Sports this week, although some are beyond control of local organizers.
Amid a recession and political crisis that could see the impeachment of President Dilma Rousseff, local Olympic organizers face a public health emergency with the Zika virus, pollution in the bodies of water where many competitions will be held and budgetary cutbacks.