# Will The Virus "Kinzi" Bring An End to the Rio 2016 Olymics? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 21, 2016, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-virus-kinzi-bring-an-end-to-the-rio-2016-olymics/743778 "2016-01-21T14:12:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![LC\_Strawhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e19adc/32.png) [@LC\_Strawhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LC_Strawhouse)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2016, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-virus-kinzi-bring-an-end-to-the-rio-2016-olymics/743778/21 "2016-01-28T01:06:22Z")
I was specifically talking about the Olympics, not sports in general. Come on, don’t you think it’s just a bit of a post-colonial / Cold War era fossil? ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2016, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-virus-kinzi-bring-an-end-to-the-rio-2016-olymics/743778/22 "2016-01-28T01:17:18Z")
> [@LC\_Strawhouse](#): > > I was specifically talking about the Olympics, not sports in general. Come on, don’t you think it’s just a bit of a post-colonial / Cold War era fossil? From a certain point of view, perhaps so. I’ll admit that the nationalism of the Olympic games as shown on U.S. TV irritates me somewhat. OK, a lot. But, for the athletes, and for the fans of athletics, the Olympics are the end all and be all. There is nothing post colonial about it. They are competing against the best in the world to show that they are the best in the world, and that’s a perfectly valid goal. We have to put up with the rest of the shit in order to make that goal obtainable. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2016, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-virus-kinzi-bring-an-end-to-the-rio-2016-olymics/743778/23 "2016-01-28T05:41:04Z")
Sorry, but the “Show Must Go On” is not immutable. How much more damaged when the aspirations of the Olympics be if the site is a total disaster or, worse, a major public health problem. Wasn’t the _Mishigas_ in Moscow bad enough? ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2016, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-virus-kinzi-bring-an-end-to-the-rio-2016-olymics/743778/24 "2016-01-28T15:45:18Z")
Moved and cancelled Olympics (and World Cups) are the brokered convention of sports–it never happens, but that doesn’t stop people from talking about it every four years. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2016, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-virus-kinzi-bring-an-end-to-the-rio-2016-olymics/743778/25 "2016-01-28T16:20:28Z")
Usually Olympics being cancelled talk centers around stadiums not being built in time though. You must admit this is a little different. Not that I really think they will be cancelled. So now they’ve mobilized 200k military personnel to a huge mosquito eradication program. Unfortunately there may be more bad news as some [scientists fear the disease has jumped to the common mosquito](http://news.sky.com/story/1631065/zika-virus-may-have-spread-to-common-mosquito) which is 20 times the number and has a much wider climate range, meaning it could spread to North America. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2016, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-virus-kinzi-bring-an-end-to-the-rio-2016-olymics/743778/26 "2016-01-28T16:24:00Z")
Gonna have a hell of an impact on the whole abortion debate. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2016, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-virus-kinzi-bring-an-end-to-the-rio-2016-olymics/743778/27 "2016-01-28T21:59:04Z")
> [@LC\_Strawhouse](#): > > I was specifically talking about the Olympics, not sports in general. Come on, don’t you think it’s just a bit of a post-colonial / Cold War era fossil? For some of us, the Olympics are the only sports worth watching. And I’ve been watching them like clockwork every single time since 1972. Don’t expect to stop now. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2016, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-virus-kinzi-bring-an-end-to-the-rio-2016-olymics/743778/28 "2016-01-28T22:01:39Z")
> [@suranyi](#): > > For some of us, the Olympics are the only sports worth watching. And I’ve been watching them like clockwork every single time since 1972. Don’t expect to stop now. No kidding. You can’t escape people talking about it so I don’t see how anyone could say “who cares?”. I mean, I don’t but others obviously do. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2016, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-virus-kinzi-bring-an-end-to-the-rio-2016-olymics/743778/29 "2016-01-28T22:05:39Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > No kidding. You can’t escape people talking about it so I don’t see how anyone could say “who cares?”. I mean, I don’t but others obviously do. I suppose a lot of people watch the Olympics. But, that’s different from saying they would be unhappy or even notice, if we slipped the event back a year or two. For me, it’s always “Oh, another four years has gone by already?” If 2016 came and went and I didn’t see a commercial for the games, I doubt I’d think anything was amiss. ---
**Author:** ![LC\_Strawhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e19adc/32.png) [@LC\_Strawhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LC_Strawhouse)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2016, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-virus-kinzi-bring-an-end-to-the-rio-2016-olymics/743778/30 "2016-01-28T22:40:35Z")
And 90% of the events are such weird charity-case sports that can’t draw any interest outside of the Olympics anyway… ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-virus-kinzi-bring-an-end-to-the-rio-2016-olymics/743778/31 "2016-01-29T00:02:00Z")
Are the Olympic venues themselves in the same regions as those with documented Zika infection? No cite, but I thought I read that most of the cases of Zika infection were mostly in the northeastern rural (and ?coastal) areas and had not been an issue around Rio. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-virus-kinzi-bring-an-end-to-the-rio-2016-olymics/743778/32 "2016-01-29T00:56:14Z")
> **[Brazil is 'badly losing' the battle against Zika virus, says health minister](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/26/brazil-zika-virus-health-minister-armed-forces-eradication)** > > Nearly 220,000 troops to be deployed to eradicate mosquitoes and prices rises as insect repellent in short supply at pharmacies The Guardian article I read (above) said the northeast is hardest hit but the region around Rio was “second hardest hit”. Not sure how bad that means. ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-virus-kinzi-bring-an-end-to-the-rio-2016-olymics/743778/33 "2016-01-29T02:37:07Z")
Given Rio’s ongoing problems with sewage and water management, I expect that it’s only a matter of time before the Zika virus is in full swing there. However, I also expect that the Brazilian government would fill Rio to the depth of five feet in DDT before allowing the Olympics to be cancelled. The IOC would cheerfully supply the poison. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-virus-kinzi-bring-an-end-to-the-rio-2016-olymics/743778/34 "2016-01-29T03:16:56Z")
Well they had a pretty successful mosquito eradication program in the 50s and 60’s. Wonder how much they can get done in time. ---
**Author:** ![T.M](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ad7895/32.png) [@T.M](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/T.M)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2016, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-virus-kinzi-bring-an-end-to-the-rio-2016-olymics/743778/35 "2016-02-02T01:05:36Z")
It is starting to look as though the Olympics will not happen Zika virus outbreak IS a ‘global public health emergency’, says World Health Organisation, as graveyards and schools are desperately disinfected in South America Outbreak of the Zika virus is a global public health emergency, the World Health Organisation warned today The alert puts the mosquito-borne disease in the same category as Ebola, which killed 11,000 people in West Africa Experts predict there could be four million cases of the virus, which has spread to 23 countries, this year WHO director general Dr Margaret Chan called it an ‘extraordinary event’ and called for an international response There is no cure or vaccination for the virus, which is linked to babies being born with abnormally small heads For more of the latest news on the Zika virus visit [www.dailymail.co.uk/zikavirus](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/zikavirus) By Kate Pickles For Mailonline and Press Association Published: 01:27, 1 February 2016 | Updated: 23:29, 1 February 2016 Read more: [Zika virus outbreak IS a 'global public health emergency', says WHO | Daily Mail Online](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3425846/World-Health-Organization-deeply-concerned-explosive-spread-Zika-virus-El-Nino-increases-fears-expansion.html#ixzz3yy6INCAi) Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2016, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-virus-kinzi-bring-an-end-to-the-rio-2016-olymics/743778/36 "2016-02-02T02:23:03Z")
If the Daily Mail said that the Earth was round, I would be sceptical of the story. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Kumquat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gary\_Kumquat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Kumquat)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2016, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-virus-kinzi-bring-an-end-to-the-rio-2016-olymics/743778/37 "2016-02-02T08:04:32Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > If the Daily Mail said that the Earth was round, I would be sceptical of the story. Be fair to the the DM\* -they wouldn’t say the Earth is flat. Instead they’d do their calling card alarmist Question To Which The Answer Is No\*\* headline such as “Is the growing weight of immigrants causing the world to flatten”. And in fairness even the DM\*\*\* can just about re-post a WHO announcement that was already fucking terrifying without adding too much extra fear-mongering, though I’m surprised they haven’t asked if immigrants will spread Zika to Britain. Maybe next week. \*\*Please never make me write that again \*\*See previous DMQTWTAIN such as “Could Abu Qatada Trigger a Snap General Election”, “Is this proof the Virgin Queen was an imposter in drag”, “Is this spooky apparation the Grey Lady of Hampton Court?”,“Do aliens live 17 miles above us” and my personal favorite [“Is the lake pictured on every iPad secretly CURSED by the ghosts of disabled babies who were thrown into its waters because they wouldn’t survive?”](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2655089/Is-lake-pictured-iPad-secretly-CURSED-ghosts-disabled-babies-thrown-waters-wouldnt-survive.html) \*\*\* You’ve made me do it again AK! I won’t forget this, you hear!\* ---
**Author:** ![T.M](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ad7895/32.png) [@T.M](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/T.M)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-virus-kinzi-bring-an-end-to-the-rio-2016-olymics/743778/38 "2016-02-03T14:40:43Z")
> [@Gary\_Kumquat](#): > > Be fair to the the DM\* -they wouldn’t say the Earth is flat. Instead they’d do their calling card alarmist Question To Which The Answer Is No\*\* headline such as “Is the growing weight of immigrants causing the world to flatten”. > > And in fairness even the DM\*\*\* can just about re-post a WHO announcement that was already fucking terrifying without adding too much extra fear-mongering, though I’m surprised they haven’t asked if immigrants will spread Zika to Britain. Maybe next week. > > \*\*Please never make me write that again > > \*\*See previous DMQTWTAIN such as “Could Abu Qatada Trigger a Snap General Election”, “Is this proof the Virgin Queen was an imposter in drag”, “Is this spooky apparation the Grey Lady of Hampton Court?”,“Do aliens live 17 miles above us” and my personal favorite [“Is the lake pictured on every iPad secretly CURSED by the ghosts of disabled babies who were thrown into its waters because they wouldn’t survive?”](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2655089/Is-lake-pictured-iPad-secretly-CURSED-ghosts-disabled-babies-thrown-waters-wouldnt-survive.html) > > \*\*\* You’ve made me do it again AK! I won’t forget this, you hear!\* I do not know about the DM but I did watch a one hour TV program about the Virgin Queen it explored the idea that the princess died when she was very young and was replaced by a young effeminate looking boy, the story was a little loose until the end when she died, the body was not examined and the burial took place in secret. Not enough evidence to prove the story correct but enough to make you think ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-virus-kinzi-bring-an-end-to-the-rio-2016-olymics/743778/39 "2016-02-03T19:27:14Z")
> [@T.M](#): > > It is starting to look as though the Olympics will not happen You are wildly underestimating the avarice of the International Olympic Committee. The Olympics will happen unless Rio de Janiero is destroyed by a nuclear weapon immediately prior to the opening ceremonies. No mere disease is going to stop it. The people who stand to make money from this are not going to let sickness get in their way. They will kill every athlete in the Olympic village before they let the Olympics be cancelled. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-virus-kinzi-bring-an-end-to-the-rio-2016-olymics/743778/40 "2016-02-03T19:31:29Z")
Did the Olympics Committee shoot your dog or something, RickJay? Sheesh. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-virus-kinzi-bring-an-end-to-the-rio-2016-olymics/743778.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-virus-kinzi-bring-an-end-to-the-rio-2016-olymics/743778.md?page=3)