Aerial view of the flooded airport and city of Porto Alegre (RS)Disclosure/Gov
Published 05/09/2024 12:12
The Brazilian Olympic Committee (COB) is closely monitoring the tragedy caused by the rains in Rio Grande do Sul and is helping athletes from Rio Grande do Sul, who have already achieved Olympic qualification or are close to qualifying, to leave the state safely. The entity is looking for exit routes so that competitors can migrate to other states and continue preparing for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, scheduled to begin on July 26th.
For some sports from the traditional clubs Sogipa and Grêmio Náutico União, such as open water, artistic gymnastics and judo, the COB is helping with planning to leave Porto Alegre for other cities. One of the alternatives that some competitors are using to leave the capital of Rio Grande do Sul is to drive to Florianópolis, in Santa Catarina, and from there take a flight to other cities. The entity has committed to paying for air tickets, accommodation and food for the athletes during the period they are in these cities.
Also according to the COB, judoka Jéssica Lima will go to São Paulo for training until the end of May. Open water swimmer Viviane Junglut, who embarks on the 19th of this month for the World Cup stage in Italy, must be trained at the Maria Lenk Complex, in Rio de Janeiro, before the trip.
Gymnasts Andreza Lima, Rafaela Severo Oliva and Luiza de Souza Abel are scheduled to leave Porto Alegre on the 12th and will train in Rio de Janeiro, at the COB CT until the Pan-American Championships, in Colombia, at the end of May. Furthermore, there are support plans for coaches Kiko Klazer (open water), Antônio Carlos Kiko Pereira (judo), Adriana Alves (gymnastics) and Martha Rocha (sailing), as well as physiotherapist Angel Souza.
The entity will also make a donation of R$100,000 to Rio Grande do Sul through private resources, in addition to providing gallons of water for flood victims. Some Olympic athletes are also mobilizing to help those affected. Italo Ferreira stated that he raised around R$100,000 by selling ten surfboards. All proceeds will go to the population of Rio Grande do Sul.
To date, according to data from the Civil Defense of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, 100 deaths have been recorded, 128 injured and 324 missing. The current bulletin also revealed that around 230,000 people are homeless. Lake Guaíba surpassed the 5.3 meter mark with severe rains last week. This is the greatest natural tragedy in the history of the State.
