Athlete safety has been one of the top concerns in Beaufort County this summer. The high temperatures, humidity and beating sun have made it tough for competitors of all ages to get out and play their favorite sport during the last few months.

Why isn’t safety such a paramount concern for athletes at all levels across the world?

The opening ceremonies for the Olympics will kick off the festivities tomorrow evening in Rio de Janeiro. Some of the events will be held on the water. Brazilians take pride in the picturesque scene of the Guanabara Bay much like Beaufort County residents take pride in the beautiful sights of the Pamlico River waterfront.

However, these athletes competing on the water are risking their own health in doing so. Those partaking in sailing, rowing, canoeing and other events on the waters of Rio could potentially be exposed to dangerous pathogens. These waters in Rio are often teeming with bacteria stemming from untreated human waste.

The Associated Press recently reported bacteria and virus levels so elevated that an athlete need only consume three teaspoons of the water to almost surely contract severe stomach and respiratory illnesses.

Of the more than 10,000 athletes competing in Rio this summer, UK medical journal The Lancet says that roughly 1,400 of them will be directly exposed to the pathogens in these waters.

According to an article in The Guardian, Olympians have been preparing themselves by covering even the smallest of open wounds, getting used to protective suits and preemptively taking antibiotics.

The IOC has set the bar low when it comes to protecting some of the world’s most talented competitors from illness. Thankfully, the water conditions are much better for Beaufort County’s aquatic athletes. Coaches, parents, trainers and more have also proven throughout this hot summer that health and wellbeing are more important than any wins, losses or money.