With drugs, Zika and the threat of terrorism dominating the Olympic build-up, it’s now up to the world’s biggest names to lift the gloom, writes Graeme Macpherson ‘I

ALWAYS turn to the sports Games are as clean as can be page first, which records realistically hoped for, and that more people’s accomplishments. high-profile doping stories do not The front page has nothing emerge to further taint the Olympic but man’s failures.” The brand. Given the IOC are still reporting Olympic movement already has its more positive cases from the last two own motto – Faster, Higher, Stronger summer Games in Beijing and London – but it would do well to also keep in as a result of retesting, that might be mind the above quote attributed to Earl too much to wish for. Warren, the former US chief justice and Then there is the Zika controversy. A erstwhile Governor of California. mosquito-borne virus prevalent in large

Over the next three weeks as the parts of the Americas that can cause XXXI Games unfold in Rio de Janeiro, brain damage in newborn babies as Brazil, an Olympic story that has been well as other physical defects, there chronicled mainly on the front pages of were initial fears that the vast amount newspapers over the past few months of both athletes and visitors travelling to will look to make the transition to the Rio would be in danger of contracting back. Come the closing ceremony at the virus and then accelerating its the Maracana Stadium on August 21 dissemination around the globe upon the hope must be that the scale of the their return home. accomplishments have been so vast Many athletes, including the top four that they have dispatched all previous male golfers in the world and two of problems to the furthest corners of the this year’s Wimbledon semi-finalists, mind. Milos Raonic and Tomas Berdych, have

For there is little doubt, with the weighed up the risk and chosen not opening ceremony just five days away, to travel, although Rory McIlroy later that this latest edition of elite sport’s admitted his decision was also partially quadrennial gathering could do with influenced by his indifference to golf’s some positive PR. This is not the return to the Olympic programme after first time political controversies have a 112-year wait. threatened to overshadow the Olympics The World Health Organisation, – the United States boycotted the however, has sought to assure travellers 1980 Games in Moscow, the Soviets heading to the Games that there is little responded by not sending a team to chance of them contracting the virus, Los Angeles in 1984 – but the muddled a message further underlined by the handling of the response to allegations release last week of a study undertaken of Russian state-sponsored doping by Yale University that revealed that, programmes this time around has left out of a potential 500,000 visitors to many feeling disenchanted and weary. Brazil, only a maximum of 37 would

The decision by the International be expected to return home having Olympic Committee (IOC) last weekend contracted Zika. not to issue a blanket ban to all Russian “The possibility that travellers athletes – despite claims made in the returning from the Olympics may spread McLaren Report that included Russian Zika has become a polemic issue secret service agents tampering with that has led to athletes dropping out urine samples – and instead leave it up of the event, and, without evidence, to each individual sporting federation to undue stigmatisation of Brazil,” said take a stance on athlete eligibility was a Prof Albert Ko, chair of the department demoralising blow to those hoping for a of epidemiology of microbial diseases tougher response. at Yale. “This study provides data,

The ban on Russia’s track and which together with initial findings from field athletes, as implemented by the Brazilian scientists show that these International Association of Athletics concerns may be largely exaggerated.” Federations (IAAF) and upheld by A greater concern may be Rio’s the Court of Arbitration for Sport, will vulnerability to a terrorist attack, a not remain, while those Russians from unrealistic worry given recent incidents other disciplines with a previous doping around the world. Brazil’s justice conviction will also not compete in Rio. minister, Alexandre de Moraes, has

On that front the Russians can rightly conceded that such an attack was feel hard done by, given the likes of a “possibility not a probability”, with American sprinter Justin Gatlin will 85,000 military and police officials set be allowed to perform despite having to be deployed throughout the Games served two separate bans for doping – double the number from London four offences. It is still difficult to imagine,ago.years however, too sympathetic a welcome for those who travel to represent a nation that ought to be recoiling in shame and guilt, rather than bullishly still taking swipes at its detractors.

The only hope now is that these

SO FAR, so gloomy. It is to this backdrop, then, that the world’s top athletes must try to regain the narrative. Leading the way for the final time on this stage will be Usain Bolt. The Jamaican remains one of the most recognised and marketable figures in sport, and has the performances to back it up. In Rio he will go for an unprecedented “triple triple” as he looks to collect gold in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m at a third successive Olympics.

His performances against Gatlin, in particular, will be among the highlights of the Games, a “good versus evil” duel for the very soul of the sport given the popularity of Bolt and Gatlin’s previous convictions for doping. The Jamaican was the victor when the pair clashed at the world championships last year in Beijing and the rematch ought to be fascinating, especially after Bolt confirmed this would be his last Olympics.

It is difficult to imagine too sympathetic a welcome for those who represent a nation that ought to be recoiling in shame and guilt, rather than bullishly still taking swipes at its detractors