Yesterday, a beach goer exploring Rio’s Copacabana Beach stumbled upon a dismembered foot and a second yet-to-be-identified body part. This horrific discovery was made in the shadow of the Olympic Beach Volleyball Arena where in 36 days, 48 teams from around the world will compete.



This bad news from Rio is just another thing to add to a slew of mishaps and red flags. A manhunt for an escaped drug trafficker has led to days of police raids and gun battles in the slums of Rio, which have resulted in an unknown number of casualties.

Last week, an Australian Paralympian was mugged at gunpoint, leading Australian Olympic authorities to demand increased security for athletes.

The Rio police force has threatened to strike during the Olympics and recently greeted visitors to the city’s airport with a sign reading, “Welcome to Hell. Police and firefighters don’t get paid, whoever comes to Rio de Janeiro will not be safe.”

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If Zika and sewage-infested water seemed scary, the threat of a police strike in one of the most dangerous countries in the world—while more half a million foreign tourists and 10,500 athletes from 206 countries are visiting—should make even the most brave among us pause.

What are our athletes feeling after seeing these kinds of headlines?  Undoubtedly, if asked, they would recite the company line, assuring us of their confidence in their safety while in Rio, and expressing their gratitude for the opportunity to represent their country.

The Olympics won’t be cancelled. As highlighted in an editorial by the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, such a choice would be disastrous for the community and heartbreaking for athletes who accepted the risks a Rio Olympics posed to their health and safety and trained and sacrificed to prepare even so.

But how far would the situation in Rio have to deteriorate to make the USOC and our American athletes reconsider their choice to compete? Where is the line?