In pictures: 2016 Rio Olympics off to a shaky start
The Rio Olympics are yet to officially commence, but the games have not been without their controversies. Health warnings, a spate of crime and sordid conditions of the athletes’ village are only the beginning of the issues so far.
Thousands of anti-government protesters took to Rio's Copacabana Beach on Sunday to rally against suspended Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, calling for her to be permanently removed from office. Ms Rousseff was suspended in May for allegedly violating fiscal laws.
The protests are expected to continue, taking over some of the city’s prime attractions. (9NEWS)
The games are set to officially commence on August 5.
Click through to see some of the controversies surrounding the Olympics so far.
The main launch ramp at the Marina de Gloria collapsed on Saturday afternoon after damage from a wave during high tide. (Twitter/Jornal o Globo)
The area will act as the main venue for sailing events. No one was injured. Philip Wilkinson, a spokesman for the Rio 2016 organising committee, placed the blame on high tides and a stormy sea.
Less than a week before the games are due to start, Brazil’s Ministry of Justice terminated its contract with a security agency hired for the games. The ministry cited “incompetence”. (9NEWS)
IOC president Thomas Bach said the committee had “full confidence” in Brazilian authorities.
Government employees angry over delayed salary payments have taken out their frustrations on the country, by reportedly extinguishing the Olympic torch from a procession in Angra dos Reis last Thursday (AEST).
Some government workers have not been paid in two months as the city undergoes a cash crisis. Other protesters are believed to have been raising concerns about the lack of public transport.
Local news outlets reported that the Brazilian military had to deploy tear gas and rubber bullets, and the torch relay was temporarily halted, raising concerns after an onslaught of protests already.
Earlier, a man tried to throw water on the Olympic Torch, but was arrested a short time later. Last week, another protester attempted to steal the torch in Sao Paulo. (AAP)
Athletes have been warned about the state of Rio’s aquatic sites. Government and Olympic officials admit Guanabara Bay is still contaminated with sewage and garbage, yet will host several events including the sailing and windsurfing events.
Doctor Daniel Becker told The New York Times that athletes will “literally be swimming in human crap” and will “risk getting sick from all those microorganisms”.
The athlete’s village has been slammed by the Australian athletes, the Argentinian side, and more recently the Belarusian team who claimed the site was without hot water, and had a failing sewage system.
AOC Chef de Mission Kitty Chiller supported her team’s decision not to move into the village straight away, saying they were “endangered” by water leaks and electrical problems. The issues have now been fixed up and the team has moved in, but not before a light-hearted jibe by Rio's Mayor Eduardo Paes.
(AAP)
Mr Paes suggested “a kangaroo in front of their building [would] fix the problems”.
Ms Chiller (pictured) hit back that perhaps a “plumber” would be a better option. (AAP)
While health experts have suggested travelling to Rio won’t increase the chance of the Zika virus, several athletes have already pulled out due to concerns.
Aussie Jason Day pulled out of the games as he didn’t want to put his family through any risks of Zika. “I have always placed my family in front of everything else in my life,” Day said in a statement.
(AAP)
A New Zealand athlete living in Rio de Janeiro says he was held at gunpoint by men in police uniforms, and made to hand over cash from an ATM.
Ju-jitsu champion Jason Lee says members of the Policia Militar pulled him into an unmarked car and forced him to withdraw cash.
Two men were arrested.
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