The Rio Olympic Test Event Part 2 (read Part 1 here)
Quarantine and Glanders were certainly the hot topic during the event. The exact ins and outs regarding all the finer details, high level discussions and planning regarding this issue are well above my pay grade (volunteer pay = $0) but there are several things that I do know.
First, yes, there was a Glanders positive in a military horse which had been on the venue towards the beginning of this year that came up during routine testing (horses in Brazil need a Glanders negative test very time they are transported) and I’ve been told that it was dealt with in the usual manner of removal and euthanasia. Since April there have been no horses on their venue except for the 18 horses that competed during the test event. All of these horses had extensive pre-arrival testing and underwent a strict bio-security protocol prior to being admitted to the venue. Following the test event there will be absolutely no horses on site until the Games begin. This quarantine period and the biosecurity protocol created will be sufficient for the European Union to designate the venue as a “Regionalised Zone”, which from my understanding means that the entire venue along with the airport and road leading into the venue is considered as having the same quarantine status as the EU.
In practical terms this means horses from the EU can fly in and fly out of the games without quarantine periods following the “Bubble to Bubble” quarantine concept. Despite the uncertainty and valid concerns regarding Glanders, what I can say with the up most of confidence is that Peden Bloodstock, the equine logistic and transport company contracted to fly all of the horses in and out of Rio, are immensely experienced and have a proven track record of safely moving elite level horses in and out of challenging locations. They have provided transport and quarantine services to the last nine Olympic Games, every World Equestrian Games since 1990, the last 3 Asian games, established and executed the “Bubble to Bubble” quarantine protocol for the Shanghai and Miami Global Champions Tour events as well as being involved with the Athina Onassis Horse Show in Brazil for several years. If anyone is going to be able to get horses safely in and out of Brazil it’s these guys.
There are not many cross country courses around the world that have pop up sprinklers along their entire length, nor many where you might get buzzed by a military helicopter
Random knowledge bomb – the cross country course was originally destined to be home to a crematorium with the white building in the background to be a military memorial – until they realised the soil type wasn’t appropriate for a lawn cemetery… oops
Safety and security is a valid concern for any traveller to Rio. The vet services manager certainly put the fear of god in me throughout the length of numerous emails prior to the event. But having said that, I at no time felt unsafe or threatened during the nine days I was in Rio. I’ve been lucky enough to travel extensively around South America previously, as well as some “interesting” places in Eastern Europe and northern Africa and have never really felt unsafe. With basic common sense and awareness around personal safety I don’t feel that Rio is any more dangerous for tourists than any other major city around the world – I spent about three hours on the train each day, sometimes quite late into the evening, and it felt no less secure than late night on a train in New York. I spent heaps of time exploring Rio and when walking the busy streets it felt the same as if I was in Paris or Rome – mind your bag, don’t carry too much cash and don’t flash your expensive watch or fancy iPhone.
The equestrian venue is smack bang in the middle of a massively huge army base – the main road is six lanes wide! There are tanks left, right and centre. Road blocks, check points and soldiers are everywhere. Along the ten minute walk from the train station to the venue you would walk past at least a dozen men with very large machine guns looking over you. It’s like you’ve walked onto the set of an American war movie. It’s truly phenomenal how big the army base is. I know some people find armed military personnel out on the streets to be disconcerting, but I’m the opposite. I find them very reassuring. Ain’t nobody going to be messing with the Deodoro Olympic venue!!! BUT there is no doubt Rio can be a dangerous city if you are not careful. I was chatting to the High Performance Manager for Australian Rowing on the flight home who told me that during the rowing test event a couple of the parents and supporters had their handbags stolen and a one or two had attempts of jewellery being stolen from around their necks. Thankfully no one from the equestrian event reported any issues.
All in all I had an absolutely amazing time at the Rio 2016 Olympic Equestrian Test Event and it exceeded all expectations. Rio is a wonderfully fascinating city, very much a Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde kind of place. A contrasting city of extreme wealth and extreme poverty; wonderful natural beauty bordered by filth and pollution; an oasis of equestrian bliss surrounded by razor wire and favela; a ribbon of manicured turf in the middle of untamed tropical scrub.
Rio 2016 is as ready for the equestrian events as London was for 2012 at the same point in time, and we know what a great job London did. There is still a huge amount of work to be done, and a long road ahead to ensure that the games of the 31st Olympiad are to the highest standards and display the sport of equestrian in the very best possible way. I have no doubt that in 345 days time the Rio 2016 vet team will be absolutely ready to provide the very best of veterinary care to the world's most elite equine athletes.
Till next time,
Be careful out there – bring you and your horse home safe and sound
