CP375560512
FILE - In this June 1, 2015 file photo, a discarded sofa litters the shore of Guanabara Bay in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Torben Grael, Brazil\'s most decorated Olympic athlete, says Rio de Janeiro has missed a once-in-a-lifetime chance to clean polluted Guanabara Bay, the venue for Olympic sailing. In an interview with Canada\'s CBC television, Grael says the bay "just looks horrible” and that “they\'re going to be careful collecting the garbage in the racing areas, but that\'s going to be just for the games.” (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo, File)

5-time Olympic medallist Grael says Rio missed chance on bay

RIO DE JANEIRO – Torben Grael, Brazil’s most decorated Olympic athlete, says Rio de Janeiro has missed a once-in-a-lifetime chance to clean polluted Guanabara Bay, the venue for Olympic sailing.

In an interview with Canada’s CBC television, Grael says the bay “just looks horrible” and that “they’re going to be careful collecting the garbage in the racing areas, but that’s going to be just for the games.”

Grael said there had been hopes of an Olympic legacy for the bay “but it’s not going to happen, unfortunately.”

Grael has won five Olympic medals in sailing: two gold, a silver and two bronze medals. He has sailed for years in the Guanabara Bay and hoped the Olympics would prompt a wholesale clean up.

News from © The Associated Press, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

The Associated Press

The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.

More Articles

Related Articles