International Olympic Committee (IOC) Coordination Commission chair Nawal El Moutawakel had claimed last month they had received assurances from Brazilian officials that the Bay will be safe to compete in during next year's Games.

But, days later, it was reported locally that neither the rubbish collection boats nor the barricades reducing pollution on Guanabara Bay are currently in operation due to a lack of funding, as well as a feeling that the measures were not working.

New measures have since been announced, but there is a growing fears that the strong rhetoric of the Brazilian authorities is not being backed up by decisive action. 

Since then, International Sailing Federation (ISAF) President Carlo Croce and vice-president Scott Perry met with IOC officials, including President Thomas Bach, to discuss the "shared concern" about pollution in the Bay.

Nawal El Mouwatakel, pictured with Rio 2016 President Carlos Nuzman, has received multiple assurances that pollution concerns will have been remedied before the Games ©Getty Images





The concern of both the IOC and ISAF centres "mainly on the physical objects in the water which can affect the outcome of competition and the contamination of the water which can affect the health of the competitors", an ISAF statement said.

Both the IOC and ISAF are determined "no effort should be spared in addressing both these problems", it added, with representatives of both bodies visiting Rio de Janeiro this week to find out what steps are being taken by the relevant Brazilian authorities to deal with this "urgent matter".

Rio's State Government, who are responsible for pollution concerns, are yet to respond to insidethegames' requests for a comment.

But local reports have quoted Rio State Governor Luiz Fernando Pezão, who claims the equipment and people employed in the Bay to remove rubbish is now being increased. 

In the meantime, some citizens have taken matters into their own hands by clearing rubbish themselves, with a second test event scheduled to take place later this year between August 8 and 18.

Some of the sailors due to compete this year, including members of the British team, are already reportedly taking supplements to mitigate against water pollution during the Games. 

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