The World Rowing Federation is happy with the results of a health survey carried out at the Rio2016 Olympic venue.
Rio2016 Olympic rowing venue Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Rio hosted the World Junior Rowing Championship regatta in August, which served as the test event for the Olympis.
The Rowing Federations sports medicine commission carried out a survey of the national federations that participated to find out if there were particular health issues around the event in light of the concern over water quality at the venue.
They have announced that the results showed that incidences of illness were much lower than compared to prior years' events.
There were 54 national federations that participated at the championships and 40 of those reported no illness among their team members during or after the event.
13 reported one to five cases of illness; and one team reported more than five cases of illness. There were two medical substitutions made during the regatta.
FISA executive director Matt Smith said the level of illness at the Rio junior championships was lower than at many other junior championships.
The Rio rouing venue is in the middle of an urban area and is known to be affected by pollution, the levels of which can increase from time to time after heavy rain.
The survey also noted that two rowers capsized in the lagoon during the regatta and a group of Dutch supporters swam in the lagoon following the junior men's eight victory. None of these individuals became ill.
The survey therefore pointed out that the 2015 World Rowing Junior Championships took place in "very acceptable water quality conditions."
