Should we panic about Rio Olympics? Get real

By Amy Bass
Updated 2:51 PM EDT, Wed May 4, 2016
Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff lit the Olympic torch in Brasilia Tuesday. The torch will pass through 329 cities on its way to Rio de Janeiro where the Games begin on August 5.
Photos: Rio Olympics: Torch arrives ahead of 2016 Games
PHOTO: Buda Mendes/Getty Images South America/Getty Images
Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff lit the Olympic torch in Brasilia Tuesday. The torch will pass through 329 cities on its way to Rio de Janeiro where the Games begin on August 5.
Brazilian sailor Felipe Rondina carried the Olympic flame on a speedboat at Lake Paranoa.
Photos: Games flame crosses Brazil
PHOTO: YASUYOSHI CHIBA/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
Brazilian sailor Felipe Rondina carried the Olympic flame on a speedboat at Lake Paranoa.
Canoeist Rubens Pompeu carried the Olympic flame on an outrigger canoe at Lake Paranoa. The torch will be carried in a relay by 12,000 people throughout its journey across the country.
Photos: Rio Olympics: Torch arrives ahead of 2016 Games
PHOTO: YASUYOSHI CHIBA/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
Canoeist Rubens Pompeu carried the Olympic flame on an outrigger canoe at Lake Paranoa. The torch will be carried in a relay by 12,000 people throughout its journey across the country.
The Olympic flame arrived on its own private flight form Switzerland. It was kept inside a gold lantern and transferred to Planalto presidential palace.
Photos: Rio Olympics: Torch arrives ahead of 2016 Games
PHOTO: Igo Estrela/Getty Images South America/Getty Images
The Olympic flame arrived on its own private flight form Switzerland. It was kept inside a gold lantern and transferred to Planalto presidential palace.
The Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro will host the opening ceremony of the Games which run from August 5-21.
Photos: Rio Olympics: Torch arrives ahead of 2016 Games
PHOTO: VANDERLEI ALMEIDA/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
The Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro will host the opening ceremony of the Games which run from August 5-21.

Story highlights

Amy Bass: Time to panic about Rio? Snafus in preparation and political chaos make it seem so

But Olympics are rarely free of big problems, she says

Bass: The Brazilians will be the ones left to clean up the mess afterward

Editor’s Note: Amy Bass, a professor of history at the College of New Rochelle, is the author of “Not the Triumph but the Struggle: The 1968 Olympics and the Making of the Black Athlete.” As the supervisor of NBC’s Olympic Research Room, she is a veteran of eight Olympics, with an Emmy win in 2012. Follow her on Twitter @bassab1. The opinions expressed in this commentary are hers.

(CNN) —  

When is it time to panic about the Olympics?

It’s true, things are not pretty in Rio de Janeiro, even as the Olympic torch arrived Tuesday in Brazil, with three months until the opening ceremony of the Games.

There’s the raw sewage in Guanabara Bay, slated for sailing events. The doubts over whether the subway line connecting the Olympic venues will be finished in time. The horror of the collapse of a recently built $12 million seaside bike path (two dead, three injured), calling into question the integrity of the other structures the city has built for the Games – for which, by the way, ticket sales are still hovering at only about 62%.

Amy Bass
Rodney Bedsole
Amy Bass

But panic? Well, the Zika virus is spreading, with some delegations debuting “Zika-proof” uniforms. The city’s notorious crime rate looms large, and Amnesty International has called attention to the death toll from police crackdowns in the favelas, or shantytowns.

All this while the country remains embroiled in economic recession, a corruption scandal and political drama, most notably impeachment proceedings against President Dilma Rousseff.

But let’s pause a moment.

It has become tradition to sound alarm bells in the months leading up to an Olympic Games. Before the last go-round, Sochi for example, cries of crisis came often: Venues built on protected lands. Swollen budgets tied to crime syndicates. Illegal dumping and contaminated water. Anti-gay legislation and hate crimes. Pussy Riot. And stray dogs, everywhere.

But good luck finding an example of a truly noble Olympics. Politics take a toll because the Olympics are never free and clear of their political moment.

Greece's ancient capital hosted the first modern Olympic Games. The opening ceremony took place at the Panathinaiko Stadium before 241 athletes from 14 nations took part in 43 events across nine sports.
Photos: Photo finish: The history of the Olympics
PHOTO: Getty Images / Handout/file
1896, Athens —
Greece's ancient capital hosted the first modern Olympic Games. The opening ceremony took place at the Panathinaiko Stadium before 241 athletes from 14 nations took part in 43 events across nine sports.
Four years later, the Games were held as part of the world's fair in the French capital. The Eiffel Tower was a central focus of the "Exposition Universelle."
Photos: Photo finish: The history of the Olympics
PHOTO: London Stereoscopic Company/Getty Images/file
1900, Paris —
Four years later, the Games were held as part of the world's fair in the French capital. The Eiffel Tower was a central focus of the "Exposition Universelle."
The Olympics left Europe for the first time in 1904 and arrived on U.S. soil. One of the stars in St. Louis was Archie Hahn -- second from the right in this picture taken in 1906. The American won three gold medals, in the 200 and 100 meters and the now-defunct 60 meters.
Photos: Photo finish: The history of the Olympics
PHOTO: Hulton Archive/Getty Images/file
1904, St. Louis —
The Olympics left Europe for the first time in 1904 and arrived on U.S. soil. One of the stars in St. Louis was Archie Hahn -- second from the right in this picture taken in 1906. The American won three gold medals, in the 200 and 100 meters and the now-defunct 60 meters.
The only city to have hosted the Olympic Games on three separate occasions, the UK capital made its bow in 1908. Queenie Newall won the ladies' "double National round" archery competition at the age of 53.
Photos: Photo finish: The history of the Olympics
PHOTO: Allsport Hulton/Archive
1908, London —
The only city to have hosted the Olympic Games on three separate occasions, the UK capital made its bow in 1908. Queenie Newall won the ladies' "double National round" archery competition at the age of 53.
Swedish athletes enter Stockholm's Olympiastadion on June 6, 1912, under the watchful eye of King Gustaf V. "It is with legitimate joy and pride that we Swedes see athletes from every part of the world gathered here with us," the monarch said upon opening the Games. "It is a great honor for Sweden that Stockholm has been chosen as the scene of the Fifth Olympiad, and I bid all of you, athletes and friends of athletics, a most hearty welcome to this friendly contest of the nations." In an Olympic first, electronic timing was introduced for athletics events.
Photos: Photo finish: The history of the Olympics
PHOTO: Schirner/Hulton Archive/Getty Images/file
1912, Stockholm —
Swedish athletes enter Stockholm's Olympiastadion on June 6, 1912, under the watchful eye of King Gustaf V. "It is with legitimate joy and pride that we Swedes see athletes from every part of the world gathered here with us," the monarch said upon opening the Games. "It is a great honor for Sweden that Stockholm has been chosen as the scene of the Fifth Olympiad, and I bid all of you, athletes and friends of athletics, a most hearty welcome to this friendly contest of the nations." In an Olympic first, electronic timing was introduced for athletics events.
The 1916 Games, due to take place in Berlin, were canceled due to World War One. Germany, Hungary, Austria, Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire were all banned from the 1920 edition held in Belgium.
Photos: Photo finish: The history of the Olympics
PHOTO: Getty Images/file
1920, Antwerp —
The 1916 Games, due to take place in Berlin, were canceled due to World War One. Germany, Hungary, Austria, Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire were all banned from the 1920 edition held in Belgium.
The Games returned to France in 1924, with U.S. athlete Clarence "Bud" Houser winning gold in both the shot put and discus field events -- he defended the latter in Amsterdam four years later.
Photos: Photo finish: The history of the Olympics
PHOTO: AFP/Getty Images/file
1924, Paris —
The Games returned to France in 1924, with U.S. athlete Clarence "Bud" Houser winning gold in both the shot put and discus field events -- he defended the latter in Amsterdam four years later.
The Dutch capital was host after failing with bids to stage the 1920 and 1924 events. Hildegard Schrader of Germany won the women's 200-meter breaststroke event.
Photos: Photo finish: The history of the Olympics
PHOTO: Central Press/Getty Images/file
Amsterdam, 1928 —
The Dutch capital was host after failing with bids to stage the 1920 and 1924 events. Hildegard Schrader of Germany won the women's 200-meter breaststroke event.
An Olympic village was built for the first time ahead of the Los Angeles Games. It was used to house the male athletes, with women staying at the Chapman Park Hotel.
Photos: Photo finish: The history of the Olympics
PHOTO: Schirner/Hulton Archive/Getty Images/file
1932, Los Angeles —
An Olympic village was built for the first time ahead of the Los Angeles Games. It was used to house the male athletes, with women staying at the Chapman Park Hotel.
These Games will forever be associated with Adolf Hitler and his brutal regime. Germany's Fuhrer viewed it as an ideal opportunity to show the supremacy of the Aryan race, but American Jesse Owens flew in the face of such prejudices by winning four gold medals -- three in sprint events and one in the long jump. The first torch relay was held, with the flame carried from Mount Olympus to the Olympic Stadium.
Photos: Photo finish: The history of the Olympics
PHOTO: Fox Photos/Getty Images/file
1936, Berlin —
These Games will forever be associated with Adolf Hitler and his brutal regime. Germany's Fuhrer viewed it as an ideal opportunity to show the supremacy of the Aryan race, but American Jesse Owens flew in the face of such prejudices by winning four gold medals -- three in sprint events and one in the long jump. The first torch relay was held, with the flame carried from Mount Olympus to the Olympic Stadium.
The British capital hosted the first Games in 12 years, debt-ridden and struggling to recover from the devastating effects of World War Two. London had just 18 months to prepare itself, while also trying to emerge from the rubble created by heavy bombing during the six-year conflict, with a population still restricted to rations. Here we see the men's 800m semifinal taking place at Wembley Stadium.
Photos: Photo finish: The history of the Olympics
PHOTO: Central Press/Getty Images/file
1948, London —
The British capital hosted the first Games in 12 years, debt-ridden and struggling to recover from the devastating effects of World War Two. London had just 18 months to prepare itself, while also trying to emerge from the rubble created by heavy bombing during the six-year conflict, with a population still restricted to rations. Here we see the men's 800m semifinal taking place at Wembley Stadium.
Emil Zatopek (right) of Czechoslovakia was the "iron man" in Finland's first Games, taking gold in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters and the marathon -- the only Olympian to have achieved the grueling feat.
Photos: Photo finish: The history of the Olympics
PHOTO: CORR/AFP/Getty Images/file
1952, Helsinki —
Emil Zatopek (right) of Czechoslovakia was the "iron man" in Finland's first Games, taking gold in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters and the marathon -- the only Olympian to have achieved the grueling feat.
Sprinter Betty Cuthbert (third from the left) was the golden girl of Australia's first Games staging, tasting victory in the women's 100m, 200m and the 4x400m relay.
Photos: Photo finish: The history of the Olympics
PHOTO: Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images/file
1956, Melbourne —
Sprinter Betty Cuthbert (third from the left) was the golden girl of Australia's first Games staging, tasting victory in the women's 100m, 200m and the 4x400m relay.
Before he was "The Greatest," Muhammad Ali was Cassius Clay, a modern-day gladiator who won boxing's light heavyweight gold medal in Italy's historic capital.
Photos: Photo finish: The history of the Olympics
PHOTO: Central Press/Getty Images/file
1960, Rome —
Before he was "The Greatest," Muhammad Ali was Cassius Clay, a modern-day gladiator who won boxing's light heavyweight gold medal in Italy's historic capital.
The lighting of the torch was particularly poignant as Yoshinori Sakai -- born in Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, the day an atomic bomb was dropped on the Japanese city -- ignited the cauldron.
Photos: Photo finish: The history of the Olympics
PHOTO: Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images/file
1964, Tokyo —
The lighting of the torch was particularly poignant as Yoshinori Sakai -- born in Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, the day an atomic bomb was dropped on the Japanese city -- ignited the cauldron.
American Dick Fosbury changed the high jump forever by claiming the gold medal with his revolutionary "Fosbury Flop" technique. It has since become the dominant technique in the event.
Photos: Photo finish: The history of the Olympics
PHOTO: AFP/Getty Images/file
1968, Mexico City —
American Dick Fosbury changed the high jump forever by claiming the gold medal with his revolutionary "Fosbury Flop" technique. It has since become the dominant technique in the event.
The Games paled into insignificance after members of the Palestinian terrorist group Black September broke into the Olympic Village, killed two Israeli athletes and took nine hostage. Those captured died during a failed rescue attempt by German authorities.
Photos: Photo finish: The history of the Olympics
PHOTO: AFP/Getty Images/file
1972, Munich —
The Games paled into insignificance after members of the Palestinian terrorist group Black September broke into the Olympic Village, killed two Israeli athletes and took nine hostage. Those captured died during a failed rescue attempt by German authorities.
Nadia Comaneci may have only been 14, but the Romanian gymnast scored a "perfect 10" on her way to winning three gold medals in Canada. The scoreboard could only display three digits, so her score went up as 1.00.
Photos: Photo finish: The history of the Olympics
PHOTO: AFP/Getty Images/file
1976, Montreal —
Nadia Comaneci may have only been 14, but the Romanian gymnast scored a "perfect 10" on her way to winning three gold medals in Canada. The scoreboard could only display three digits, so her score went up as 1.00.
While these Games are largely remembered for a U.S. boycott over the Soviet war in Afghanistan, they also featured an almighty battle between two British middle-distance runners. Steve Ovett took gold over his rival Sebastian Coe in the 800m, despite the latter holding the world record over the distance. Ovett was heavy favorite going into the 1500m and boasted a 45-race winning streak, but Coe avenged his earlier defeat as his compatriot finished third.
Photos: Photo finish: The history of the Olympics
PHOTO: Staff/AFP/Getty Images/file
1980, Moscow —
While these Games are largely remembered for a U.S. boycott over the Soviet war in Afghanistan, they also featured an almighty battle between two British middle-distance runners. Steve Ovett took gold over his rival Sebastian Coe in the 800m, despite the latter holding the world record over the distance. Ovett was heavy favorite going into the 1500m and boasted a 45-race winning streak, but Coe avenged his earlier defeat as his compatriot finished third.
Carl Lewis ran and jumped into Olympic history in the absence of the boycotting Eastern Bloc nations. He won four gold medals across sprinting and the long jump to equal the haul of his fellow American Jesse Owens in Berlin 48 years earlier.
Photos: Photo finish: The history of the Olympics
1984, Los Angeles —
Carl Lewis ran and jumped into Olympic history in the absence of the boycotting Eastern Bloc nations. He won four gold medals across sprinting and the long jump to equal the haul of his fellow American Jesse Owens in Berlin 48 years earlier.
Ben Johnson stunned the world by taking 100m gold in a record time in South Korea, but the Canadian left the Olympic movement in turmoil when he later tested positive for a banned substance.
Photos: Photo finish: The history of the Olympics
PHOTO: Simon Bruty/Allsport/file
1988,Seoul —
Ben Johnson stunned the world by taking 100m gold in a record time in South Korea, but the Canadian left the Olympic movement in turmoil when he later tested positive for a banned substance.
Derek Redmond broke down in tears during the semifinals of the men's 400m in Spain. The Briton had been one of the favorites to win gold but he succumbed to injury midway through his race. After refusing to be carried on a stretcher, Redmond's father Jim carried him over the finish line -- providing one of the most heartbreaking, and abiding, Olympic images.
Photos: Photo finish: The history of the Olympics
PHOTO: Staff/AFP/Getty Images/file
1992, Barcelona —
Derek Redmond broke down in tears during the semifinals of the men's 400m in Spain. The Briton had been one of the favorites to win gold but he succumbed to injury midway through his race. After refusing to be carried on a stretcher, Redmond's father Jim carried him over the finish line -- providing one of the most heartbreaking, and abiding, Olympic images.
Two people died as a result of a terrorist bombing, and more than 100 others were injured, as the U.S. hosted the first Summer Games to be held in a different year from the Winter version. Eric Robert Rudolph was convicted of placing the 40-pound bomb, filled with nails and screws, in Centennial Olympic Park. Alice Hawthorne, 44, of Albany, Georgia was killed by the explosion while Turkish cameraman Melih Uzunyol died of a heart attack as he rushed to film the scene.
Photos: Photo finish: The history of the Olympics
PHOTO: Georges Gobet/AFP/Getty Images/file
1996, Atlanta —
Two people died as a result of a terrorist bombing, and more than 100 others were injured, as the U.S. hosted the first Summer Games to be held in a different year from the Winter version. Eric Robert Rudolph was convicted of placing the 40-pound bomb, filled with nails and screws, in Centennial Olympic Park. Alice Hawthorne, 44, of Albany, Georgia was killed by the explosion while Turkish cameraman Melih Uzunyol died of a heart attack as he rushed to film the scene.
Cathy Freeman delighted Australian fans by winning the women's 400m, becoming the first athlete to light the Olympic torch and take a gold medal at the same Games.
Photos: Photo finish: The history of the Olympics
PHOTO: Mike Powell /Allsport/Getty Images/file
2000, Sydney —
Cathy Freeman delighted Australian fans by winning the women's 400m, becoming the first athlete to light the Olympic torch and take a gold medal at the same Games.
The deterioration of the softball stadium for the Athens 2004 Games reflects the problems some countries encounter when trying to establish a lasting Olympic legacy. This picture was taken in July 2014.
Photos: Photo finish: The history of the Olympics
PHOTO: Milos Bicanski/Getty Images/file
2004, Athens —
The deterioration of the softball stadium for the Athens 2004 Games reflects the problems some countries encounter when trying to establish a lasting Olympic legacy. This picture was taken in July 2014.
China's first Olympics was all about Usain Bolt. The Jamaican sprinter wowed the world, setting records in both the 100m and 200m en route to gold medals before adding the 4x100m relay title to his haul. Four years later in London, Bolt completed the "Double Triple" by winning all three gold medals again.
Photos: Photo finish: The history of the Olympics
PHOTO: Michael Kappeler/AFP/Getty Images/file
2008, Beijing —
China's first Olympics was all about Usain Bolt. The Jamaican sprinter wowed the world, setting records in both the 100m and 200m en route to gold medals before adding the 4x100m relay title to his haul. Four years later in London, Bolt completed the "Double Triple" by winning all three gold medals again.
The opening ceremony set the tone for a Games which captivated the British public. Film director Danny Boyle orchestrated the spectacular display, which included the Queen skydiving with James Bond and David Beckham cruising down the Thames. Bonkers, and British.
Photos: Photo finish: The history of the Olympics
PHOTO: Oli Scarff/Getty Images/file
2012, London —
The opening ceremony set the tone for a Games which captivated the British public. Film director Danny Boyle orchestrated the spectacular display, which included the Queen skydiving with James Bond and David Beckham cruising down the Thames. Bonkers, and British.

Berlin, of course, stands out because, well, Hitler. In 1956, teams such as Egypt and Lebanon boycotted the Olympics in Melbourne because of the Suez Crisis, while an already rough water polo match between two political foes – it was famously dubbed “Blood in the Water” – got ugly when Soviet Valentin Prokopov punched Hungarian Ervin Zador. (The latter’s team won 4-0.)

In 1980, more than 60 national delegations, including the United States, stayed home to protest the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan, a favor the Soviets – and 14 of their closest friends – returned four years later at the Los Angeles Olympics.

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - APRIL 17: A pro-impeachment supporter kisses a Brazilian flag, while a live television broadcast, moments after lower house deputies voted to approve the motion to continue the impeachment process of President Dilma Rousseff on April 17, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Rio will host the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in August. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Getty Images
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - APRIL 17: A pro-impeachment supporter kisses a Brazilian flag, while a live television broadcast, moments after lower house deputies voted to approve the motion to continue the impeachment process of President Dilma Rousseff on April 17, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Rio will host the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in August. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Related Article Why Brazil's crisis could get worse

But boycotts aren’t the only kinds of Olympic crisis. In Munich in 1972, after terrorists killed 11 Israeli athletes, International Olympic Committee President Avery Brundage declared, “The Games must go on”; he was trying to strike some sort of impossible balance between tragedy and sport. Montreal, which had its own share of boycotts in 1976, had to deal with decades of debt and a stadium with a balky retractable roof.

As with Sochi, human rights issues have dotted the Olympic landscape. In 1996, Atlanta had to grapple with the Confederate symbolism embedded in the Georgia state flag, while its archery venue sat on the birthplace of the modern Ku Klux Klan and featured a bas-relief sculpture of Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee and “Stonewall” Jackson.

Rio 2016 is 100 days away but this spectator at the city's Olympic golf course couldn't give a hoot.
Photos: Rio 2016 Olympics: Around the venues with 100 days to go
PHOTO: Buda Mendes/Getty
Owl in one? —
Rio 2016 is 100 days away but this spectator at the city's Olympic golf course couldn't give a hoot.
Rio has been hosting a series of test events to get ready for the Games, despite a maelstrom of political and economic upheaval gripping Brazil.
Photos: Rio 2016 Olympics: Around the venues with 100 days to go
PHOTO: Buda Mendes/Getty
Sprint finish —
Rio has been hosting a series of test events to get ready for the Games, despite a maelstrom of political and economic upheaval gripping Brazil.
President Dilma Rousseff, facing impeachment proceedings, has still made appearances at Olympic venues. She opened the aquatics venue earlier in April.
Photos: Rio 2016 Olympics: Around the venues with 100 days to go
PHOTO: Buda Mendes/Getty
Treading water —
President Dilma Rousseff, facing impeachment proceedings, has still made appearances at Olympic venues. She opened the aquatics venue earlier in April.
International Olympic Committee inspectors say Rio's venues are 98 percent complete, with just over three months to go. This is the aquatics venue from the outside.
Photos: Rio 2016 Olympics: Around the venues with 100 days to go
PHOTO: Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP/Getty
Almost ready —
International Olympic Committee inspectors say Rio's venues are 98 percent complete, with just over three months to go. This is the aquatics venue from the outside.
This, believe it or not, will be the whitewater venue for canoe slalom during the Olympics. Until then, it's a great place to take a dip.
Photos: Rio 2016 Olympics: Around the venues with 100 days to go
PHOTO: Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP/Getty
Swimming room only —
This, believe it or not, will be the whitewater venue for canoe slalom during the Olympics. Until then, it's a great place to take a dip.
Some of Rio's venues promise spectacular views during the Games.
Photos: Rio 2016 Olympics: Around the venues with 100 days to go
PHOTO: Buda Mendes/Getty
Ocean blue —
Some of Rio's venues promise spectacular views during the Games.
The city's Sugarloaf Mountain is never far from view during outdoor events like the marathon, race walking, and road cycling.
Photos: Rio 2016 Olympics: Around the venues with 100 days to go
PHOTO: Buda Mendes/Getty
Iconic backdrop —
The city's Sugarloaf Mountain is never far from view during outdoor events like the marathon, race walking, and road cycling.
Members of Brazil's military police at the marina which will be home to Olympic sailing events. Water pollution at this venue and security concerns are just two of the issues Rio organizers face.
Photos: Rio 2016 Olympics: Around the venues with 100 days to go
PHOTO: Buda Mendes/Getty
Keeping watch —
Members of Brazil's military police at the marina which will be home to Olympic sailing events. Water pollution at this venue and security concerns are just two of the issues Rio organizers face.
Test events in Rio have, in the main, gone smoothly. However, some venues experienced power outages. Shooting events will be held here.
Photos: Rio 2016 Olympics: Around the venues with 100 days to go
PHOTO: Matthew Stockman/Getty
Gunning for gold —
Test events in Rio have, in the main, gone smoothly. However, some venues experienced power outages. Shooting events will be held here.