The Rio Farce, Day -11: Aussies Boycott The Village

Aaaaaaaaaaand I see we're off to a roaring start...

It's about two weeks to the Rio Olympics, and there's already going to be a major problem before the Opening Ceremony.

Some of the hotel rooms, booked years in advance, are being taken by the Australian team.

Why?

Because the Australian Olympic Team took one look at the Rio Olympic Village and declared it officially uninhabitable.  It appears Great Britain and New Zealand are about to follow suit, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

(You can read it all here from Deadspin)

Now, on surface, this is no surprise to anyone who has followed this entire boondoggle, with police saying they cannot protect the city, the city declaring financial emergency and stating they are not going to be able to honor all commitments (to the Games or to the populace!), and the Games already being over $1,600,000,000 over budget.

"A New World" indeed.  Yeah, if that world is The Third World, sure.

When toilets were flushed, water streaming down the downstairs walls -- strong smells of gas -- and exposed wiring.

And, according to Wyre Davies, the South American BBC correspondent:

Rio mayor responds to Team #Australia criticism of athletes' village by offering to "put a Kangaroo there to make them feel at home"#Rio2016

— Wyre Davies (@WyreDavies) July 24, 2016

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In other Olympic updates:

• Davies also reports seven Russian swimmers will not be making the trip to Rio due to failed drug tests.  With the IOC failing to do it's job for fear of terrorist retaliation, it is up to the individual sports to toss the Russians.  According to Yahoo! Sports, three of the seven won bronze in London.
• FISA, the international rowing sanctioning body, will probably announce tomorrow which Russian rowers, if any, will be eligible to compete in Rio.
• The International Weightlifting Federation is still looking into things and will announce any further disqualifications upon relevant evidence to do so or not to do so.
• The FIG, The international gymnastics federation, is doing the same.
• United World Wrestling will allow 11 Russian wrestlers to compete in Rio.  There is no indication at this time that any further action is pending against the 11.

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So the real question now, between the Olympic village and the Russian decisions, is:

Who's going to be the first country to get to Rio, take one look at the place, and withdraw?

I'm giving it...  72 hours.