RIO DE JANEIRO: A new pollution problem has surfaced in Guanabara Bay, the venue for sailing in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
Sailors complained Monday about an oil slick that turned white boats brown with crews in town practicing for the Olympics, which open in a month.
Finnish sailor Camilla Cedercreutz says "we've never seen anything like this. It was all over the place. There was no way you could avoid it."
Guanabara Bay is severely polluted, filled with bacteria and viruses. However, sailors have less frequently complained about industrial pollution in the giant bay.
Rio organizing committee officials say the venue is safe, although independent studies by The Associated Press show high level of pathogens.
World Sailing, the governing body of the sport, said it was "not in a position to comment."