Zika crisis: Rio Olympics 'should be moved or postponed'

[MowCowWhoHow III]

Source: BBC

More than 100 leading scientists say the Rio Olympics should be moved or postponed over the Zika outbreak.

The group says new findings about the virus make it "unethical" for the games to go ahead in an open letter to the World Health Organization.

They call on the WHO to revisit its guidance on Zika, which is linked to serious birth defects.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said in May it sees no reason to delay or move the games due to Zika.

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-36401150

[geek tragedy]

1. Human lives are important and everything, but we're talking serious money here.

No way they cancel.

[iandhr]

2. They can move it to another location.

[geek tragedy]

4. they could, but it would have to be to a developed country, and politically that ain't gonna fly. nt

[iandhr]

5. True

But London might me able to host on short notice since the games were there in 2012.

[geek tragedy]

6. They should be moved, just like they should never have been awarded to Brazil in the first place.

Just hope the dry season is really dry leading up to the games.

[forest444]

7. While I doubt they'll move the games as obtuse as they are, I agree.

If they can't be moved to London, and must be held in South America, they should be moved to Buenos Aires.

They're already scheduled to host the Olympic Youth Games in 2018, and it's the closest thing they'll find to a 'developed' capital in South America. More temperate weather as well.

The games could be held, say, in December, which would give them time to make last-minute preparations and coincides with the southern hemisphere summer besides.

[a la izquierda]

8. I hope you never tell Chileans that Santiago isn't developed.

And besides, Buenos Aires is pretty developed. No need for scare quotes. It's actually a legit, modern capital.

[Cal Carpenter]

10. Maybe somewhere that has recently hosted

but the amount of building and infrastructure necessary? There's not enough time.

And somewhere there's a jaw-dropping slideshow of former Olympic sites. They tend to end up unused and crumbling in some cases... at the very least they aren't properly maintained to be ready for use in the next couple months..

http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2012/08/the-ruins-of-champions-photos-of-abandoned-olympic-sites/261114/

[elljay]

3. They didn't cancel after the Palestinian terrorists murdered the Israeli Olympic team

in Munich. The profit must go on ( and the doping, illegal government sponsorship, mistreatment of children to produce athletes etc.)

[bluestateguy]

9. Chicago stands ready

nt