The Green Water Rio Scandal took place on 9 August 2016 during the 2016 Rio Olympics.

The diving and water polo pools turned green due to algae growth and a lack of chlorination.

It was considered disgusting by many athletes and viewers.

Cause

The cause of the green tint was a proliferation of algae, otherwise known as an *Algae * bloom.

Nonetheless, olympic divers competed in the suboptimal conditions.

Ralph Riley, an expert from the London-based Pool Water Treatment Advisory Group, stated that “if it has gone green, and that is because there is not enough disinfectant, there would be some kind of implied risk.”

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Micro-organisms like algae and bacteria grew particularly quickly due to Brazil warm, humid climate.

The bloom of algae took the world by surprise since it took less than 3 days to change colors completely.

A side-by-side comparison of the pool photos can be seen here: ^[-1]

On Wednesday 10 August 2016, the nearby waterpolo pool also began discoloring, due to a chemical imbalance.

This worsened the negative publicity surrounding the green diving pool.

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Response

The coloration of the water was widely criticized, since the Olympics are the premier diving competition, and the event only occurs once every four years.

The lack of chlorination was seen as a logistical error, a mishap that left many athletes shocked.

Many were frustrated that the world's best divers would have to subject themselves to this form of treatment.

Mexican diver Paolo Espinosa said “we noticed it, but it didn’t smell, and there was nothing left on our skin.”

^[5]He then stated "I haven't seen anything like it before... but it's Brazil, and everything is green down here, so maybe it was a decoration to make it look pretty."

While Espinosa took the water contamination lightly, there were many professionals who took issue with the green coloration.

Canada team leader Mitch Geller said that the divers are "used to seeing the water... the visuals are really, really important in diving."

For this reason, the green tint could even be physically dangerous to the divers.

Bronze medalists Meaghan Benfeito and Roseline Filion of Canada tried not to laugh as they gazed at the water from atop the 33-foot tower.

They liked that the dark green color offered a helpful contrast with the blue sky.

"The only thing we said is don't open your mouth in the water, just in case," Benfeito said.

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The internet became flooded with jokes about divers urinating in the pool.

It seemed that the negative publicity from the Green-Water Rio Scandal could not be flushed ** away easily.

In short, everyone was pissed. ^[-1]