Anon, don't you remember that time he blamed his broken hand and elbow dislocation, which also kept him out of a fair chunk of the NBA season!

Excuses, excuses...

#588865

This was quite a measured response to this issue, where he states that he simply won't accept advice from the governing body which is obviously has reasons to encourage people to attend.

Getting independent advice on a health matter is a positive step.

Bogut has always competed when healthy going back all the way through juniors and has given a lot for his country even though he doesn't have to (Steven Adams as a comparison).

I like the fact he keeps BA in check and speaks his mind on issues that affect everyone including the women's team as the money he has made over his career gives him the freedom to do so.

It's a legit concern, IMO. I don't care what the WHO says ($$$). Given the political climate and the Zika virus, the only thing keeping Rio going is the amount of money being spent (and projected to be earnt).

It probably doesn't help things when the Olympics are insistent on holding their competitions in second and third world countries.

Part of the reason Zika is so prevalent there is due to their water sanitation not being up to snuff.

I was a little uptight in my appraisal of the situation earlier but I do understand his concern. It is up to the Olympic committees to quell these fears with a reasonable response.

I just really hope we don't end up losing half our team to fears which are likely to turn up as unfounded. From everything I have seen it is highly unlikely to affect the area around the Olympic park and the only way to catch it person-to-person is through sexual contact, hence the 500 thousand double strength condoms the Olympics are now supplying their athletes.

He says he is "100% committed" right now, and I know Bogues tends to say what he feels. So that is heartening. And you guys are right about the injuries. It just feels sometimes they have a funnyt way of falling on the years of major tournaments. That is no fault of his own.

It was ME who inferred that it would be Bogut would look for reasons not to compete, as though he had repeatedly done so in the past.

I think most would agree that Bogut's historical commitment to the Boomers has been adequate and his several omissions understandable.

ME beat me to the post, retraction accepted.

Maybe Basketball Australia should do its own investigations independantly to see how they can help minimize risk to players. They have a full time coach and staff now, with presumably little to think about until July.

Looks like we all agree :-)

I misread the anons post... lol

I'm not sure how you can be 100% committed and still be considering pulling out. He's reported as saying both in the article. That's equivocation, not commitment.

Add to that the article focuses almost exclusively on his perception of the risks and consequences, others not going and his mistrust of assurances from official channels that it will be safe for team members.

I was left feeling he's favouring not going and in need of convincing otherwise.

He's quoted as saying he'll pull out "If it get's serious". So I was looking for what he meant by "serious". Would it be the CDC raising the alert level to 3 (it's currently Level 2)? I couldn't find anything to quantify where he's set that bar.

Assuming that info wasn't edited out, the article read, to me, more like a prelude to pulling out than a statement of commitment.

http://www.cdc.gov/zika/pdfs/fs-zika-basics.pdf

Health concerns come first.

If you can believe the CDC. It doesn't really pose that much of a threat to men. Other than if they are planning on starting a family in the 6 months after they exhibit Zika Symptoms.

So, if you can believe that, I don't know what the concern is?

For Women, well that is a whole different issue.

I guess the question will be if we can do well without Bogut. My guess is we probably could but it is not ideal. There aren't too many rim protectors like him out there. And yes, it seems very much like whaT Curry said a few weeks before pulling out.

And yeah, it wasn't the "I'll be there no matter what" that we all would have liked. Rather than 100 percent committed, it seems closer to 50/50

Zika. Worst excuse really. How many Aussie athletes head to south east Asia without a thought? Oh wait. Media hasn't blown that up yet, so it's ok. Likely hood of any athlete getting it is like .00000001%. They won't be near anything containing it

This is just like Swine flu. It is just another variation of a virus which is for the most parts pretty mild and they still haven't confirmed that it even causes those birth defects. People living in poverty drinking poorly sanitised water seem to be the ones getting these things - funny that.

It's a lot more serious than swine flu given the type of birth defect we're talking about, and "In April 2016, WHO stated there is a scientific consensus, based on preliminary evidence, that Zika is a cause of microcephaly in infants and Guillain-Barré syndrome in adults".

It's not 100%, but it's close enough for me.

There's some nasty viruses and diseases in SE Asia, but you know the risks involved in those areas a lot more than you do in Brazil. With no vaccine and no treatment for the virus it's an unknown risk, and I have zero faith in anything like a fair or impartial decision or announcement from anyone with any remote ties to the IOC or their money.

But hey, I don't even know if Zika is the biggest risk. The country sounds like it could very slide into complete chaos at any time with the amount of political instability in Brazil right now.

They need to stop holding the Olympics in shitholes.

I do agree with that much. I mean people were going to pull out of Beijing due to human rights issues. Two of the last five Olympics have been in dumb places.

Zika is in SE Asia though buddy. It's not a brand new issue in the world. It's just news to people now because the media decided it's time to let the gringos know.

Yes. Let's have it in western countries only so we can see only tiny parts of world cultures. Toughen up ladies. You're more likely to get robbed of your shit in South Bronx than you are walking through Colombia, Rio, Beijing, etc. Common sense will stop you from getting sick too.

No, just find it annoying how stupid people can be because they saw something on the news for the first time. What common sense points? Unless you drink the shitty water or swim in it, you'll be fine. You think the Olympic accomodations, or the nations, will allow an outbreak? In other words, there's nobody freaking out about going to these SE Asian countries, so why just for Brazil? Didn't say it's a non issue, just pointing out the worry is pointless. I never said it's safe, but it's not nearly as dangerous as you would think. But please, complain some more from your little bubble. When you've been through some actually dangerous places, you'll learn and evolve to find that the world isn't as dangerous as you think. I've had more issues in western countries than I have in any developing nation, which seems to be the same for most travellers I meet.

Zika links to microcephaly in SE Asia? Zero. Maybe it's not just Zika, maybe it's a combination of things. Point is, it's unknown. Maybe 6 months after the Olympics they figure out exactly what it is, but too late then, right?

As for the South Bronx.... I hardly think comparing the US to South America re: crime is the best way to go. Some parts of the States are well below the poverty line, and as someone who has traveled through South/Central America, some of the worst places I've been in terms of how unsafe I felt at the time would be in the US - parts of New Orleans and parts of San Fran in particular.

Microcephaly has affected 1'400 kids in Brazil - a country of 200 million I think?

It isn't anything near the epidemic they're painting it as.

And then how many of those will be in Rio? And how many of those will be linked to other causes? They can't even confirm a link to Zika.

This is a storm in a tea cup.

Getting sperm frozen? That's hilarious. So dramatic. May as well not leave his house, you know incase people decide to drive on that day. How many channel 7 reporters do you think will slumming it? I doubt she would be anywhere but a 5 star hotel. Totally over the top.

First world countries have big issues too. Can't have it in NYC, because well, 9/11. Who knows when that may happen again. Can't have it in Austtalia because of all those snakes and spiders. Can't have it in England because of dental issues lol. Seriously. Unless the country is in a place like Venezuela, then it shouldn't be an issue.

If we have it in the countries westerners would deem safe and plausible options, we would have the Olympics in essentially the same countries over and over again. Boring. Then you would also have the developing nations pulling out because they have no opportunity to improve their tourism trade, or anything else. Nekminit the Olympics have Europe, Australia, USA and Canada. Yay, boring much?

You pussies are more likely to be killed by a cow than Zika, or the plane to the country, or the taxi on the way to the airport, or the whopper you ate at the airport because you happened to be too lazy to make breakfast.

If you're scared of Rio you should be scared of your own backyard. Be cautious, obviously, that's common sense, but freak out and don't go because some kids in some remote area you won't even come across are sick? Grow up.

There is nothing to worry about. They will be some of the most pampered and shielded people in the planet. It is spread by mosquitos or sexually transmitted. Unless Bogut plans to fuck every single person in the stands or drive out to rural areas with stagnant bodies of water his chances of catching it are minimal. He is right to investigate and be cautious, but any half-decent source from anywhere that doesn't have a reputation for scaremongering shows that this is really a minimal threat to them.

Well played anon lol

The Promise Rio Couldn't Keep via @ESPN App http://espn.go.com/espn/feature/story/_/id/14791849/trash-contamination-continue-pollute-olympic-training-competition-sites-rio-de-janeiro

Read most of that. I think the main point is the Olympic committee need to stop thinking they can fix cities by holding their events there. From what I read it seems like athletes in water sports are going to get ill regardless of Zika.

In reality it's similar to the World Cup. The IOC need to stop forcing countries to spend billions on venues and such, and allow the funds to be spent as they are needed. Not to mention lying to people and saying it will profit the country/city, and most of all lining their own fat pockets.

The fact Beijing has the 2022 Winter Olympics is just crazy. Why do they have it? Money!

Hahahahahaha ummmm mate, millions dream of going to Rio and Brazil over Europe. For example. Europeans. Come on buddy.

What's the point? Sharing the wealth to a degree. Oh sorry, we think you're a shit country by our standards, so we won't entertain your attempt to hold this even which you attend regularly. Think a bit harder here buddy. The world already looks shit enough for big economic countries, and then for them to hog events like World Cup, olympics, etc?

You do realise these athletes from developing countries do compete at other events around the world right? A lot of them also live in those countries you think they want to compete in. I think you'd find a lot of them saviour the opportunity to travel to other places they may not see such as Brazil to compete in their chosen sport.

Zika is certainly something to keep an eye on but it isn't nearly as bad as reported especially in Rio. It's largely in the north eastern states. And the time of year for the games it's quite dry and cold as opposed to most of the rest of the year. I'm the part of Brazil where I am it's practically not an issue at all which is how it will be in Rio by August

"Hahahahahaha ummmm mate, millions dream of going to Rio and Brazil over Europe. For example. Europeans. Come on buddy."

Yes, people tend to go to countries that aren't home when they travel. That is the point of traveling. I guess you nailed that concept.

"What's the point? Sharing the wealth to a degree. Oh sorry, we think you're a shit country by our standards, so we won't entertain your attempt to hold this even which you attend regularly. Think a bit harder here buddy. The world already looks shit enough for big economic countries, and then for them to hog events like World Cup, olympics, etc?"

Cameroon, Nigeria and Egypt regularly attend thE Olympics. I can't remember one being held there, though. And why? Because they aren't suitable places. Rio with all of its various public health issues probably is not a suitable place. This has nothing to do with 'sharing the wealth' when sixteen years later Sydney is no better off for having had the Olympics in the first place.


"You do realise these athletes from developing countries do compete at other events around the world right? A lot of them also live in those countries you think they want to compete in. I think you'd find a lot of them saviour the opportunity to travel to other places they may not see such as Brazil to compete in their chosen sport."

There are a lot of countries in the world. For a lot of people any other country is a different country. You don't have to hold your Olympics in a cesspit to prove some point about travel.

"Zika is certainly something to keep an eye on but it isn't nearly as bad as reported especially in Rio. It's largely in the north eastern states. And the time of year for the games it's quite dry and cold as opposed to most of the rest of the year. I'm the part of Brazil where I am it's practically not an issue at all which is how it will be in Rio by August "

From what I have read, Zika is just the tip of the iceberg. Rowers using Brazilian waters have a good chance of getting sick. They just throw their rubbish in the river and use the streets as a toilet. I don't think Zika is the problem and I hardly think people who generally stay indoors or bring their own water will be affected. But lets be real, not a great place to hold it.

"o gasol or bogut or really any athlete pull out over concerns like this if it is held in Melbourne or Barcelona or los angeles or many other places???

To me that's how u avoid any of this stuff

You need the top athletes competing or it waters down the competition imo across any sport.

Virus or no virus u could find many places athletes are not afraid to travel to, which is what i think should happen

I hate wen 8 weeks out we are talking about this for the biggest sporting event in the world

Use my suggestion we are talking about the sport and how exciting it's going to be to see all these athletes including gasol n bogut"

Exactly right. The Olympics is not necessarily a humanitarian exercise. If your city isn't up to code, it shouldn't win the rights. IF it wants to compete to hold the games, it needs to work to get to that point.

The Olympic committee think they can fix a city by holding a games there. Fact of the matter is Rio has problems that will take decades to fix.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HEXpQuEpZI

The sewage is definitely an issue. I think the rowers and sailors etc have great reason to not want to go. It's not that people use the streets to go to the toilet it's that many many of the homes (especially in the slums) are built with literally no oversight and while they do have plumbing it simply directs into the streets or storm water drains instead of actual sewers

Barcelona, hardly a clean city. Los Angeles, can't go to certain areas because of drug and crime issues. Oh wait, they're western so it's different. Get out of Australia mate and you'll be surprised how safe places are once you stop being a stuck up wanker.

ME, are you arguing facts and then agreeing?
Sydney actually helped Australian tourism. We went from being "too far away" to a place everyone wanted to go. So as a country, yes it made us better off. We even nearly hosted the 2004 Olympics if you recall because of how well we operated.
You could point out about a hundred countries that haven't hosted it, and a bunch of western countries that have and still make very valid points as to why they shouldn't host.
Mate you're one minute agreeing with points, then now arguing against them? Puff puff pass buddy.

Fact of the matter, other than some parts of Europe and Australia/NZ, now where is ideal, and even then so many issues can be raised. Like Australia can't hold it thanks to our governments role in the high suicide rate of aboriginal youth. See where I'm going here?

Obviously the rowers and athletes using the water in general in the ocean/lagoon have valid problems to raise. How can it be fixed? Easy, have those events in a a cleaner section of water in Brazil. Problem solvered.

Here's a report of a letter by medical professionals from around the world calling for the Olympics to be moved.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-05-28/rio-2016-olympics-should-move-due-to-zika-virus-threat/7455710

The WHO disagrees, but the debate is an important one, and I think it's good people like Bogut are putting it front and centre and making the authorities address it properly.

My stance on the matter is pretty straightforward: I don't see why you'd pull out over the Zika virus, however I think Brazil is a stupid place to have the games and they should have had more foresight. The rowers are the ones that I am more concerned for.

So your concern isn't the actual reason, it's just that 2 players are pulling out. Ok.

We wouldn't be talking about the virus, but something else, like every other fucking Olympics. Moron.

The AFL, NBA, and so on play in other areas because... Money, stadium size, etc. Shit comparison. And if you look at some stadiums positions in the world, you'll find it isn't the best place. For example staples center is downtown LA, which in recent years has began to flourish again but has been a hot bed of drugs, homeless, decay, etc forever. Nice try though buddy.

Rio isn't Sudan, it isn't close to being the same. Make crap comparisons, and get crap responses. Think harder.

I'm currently in Colombia, heading to Rio for Olympics, and will be spending time through the continent this year. Spent last year in places most of you haven't heard of, and are considered unsafe, but again, unless you've been don't make silly assumptions. Most of the world is safe with a little common sense.

It's not where the games are so much as it is where the events are. They should be better spread out through the country to make sure people are safer to compete. Simple really.

I'm not debating there are issues with Brazil, or any other place in the world by the way. Just that freaking out is pointless, and to say we should only have games in countries that majority white people exist is silly, if not stupid to a point. Most of you would probably be stupid enough to say Russia isn't a safe option because Murdoch reported it so

I don't remember 'majority white' being said. But if those tend to be the safer places in the world, so be it.

We do have a responsibility to the athletes. As I said, I think Zika is a storm in a tea cup, but my concern is mainly for people who will have direct contact with their water.

They've tried to bring their water up to code and they have not achieved it. With just two months out and they are nowhere near ready.

So, if I must say it again, it is people with direct contact with unsanitary water that I worry about. Have you not heard the stories of the Croatian rowing team practicing there only recently getting sick? It's not from Zika.

Anon, the IOC cannot and will not just stage events in developed countries for a range of reasons, including amongst other things money, voting by member countries, politics, self-interest, money, factionalism, vested interests and money.

The Olympics are not just about sport (and certainly not an humanitarian exercise either) and despite your apparent belief is not governed only by white Western developed countries. Even more so, they are not run by athletes who might get a bit precious about where they go to compete. The games will still proceed even if some athletes or even countries boycott the event (which has happened many times before).

Hence your wish to have the Olympics always hosted in safe first world countries is just a nice fancy. Moving the event somewhere else two months out even more so.

I do recall vividly the concerns regarding Beijing's deadly smog before those Games? What came of that?

Once the multi-billion $ TV contracts are agreed then who actually turns up becomes irrelevant to the IOC, because they've locked in the big bucks. If a few top names pull out, I doubt if the IOC will lose any sleep - just as long as those athletes LOOK like they're going to be there in order to make sure the biggest possible contracts are signed.
It's all about the $ the IOC can make, whether as an entity or members individually through kickbacks.

Btw, from memory, within 2 years of the South Africa soccer World Cup, weren't most of the stadiums lying idle because nobody could afford to use them? Don't countries hosting the Olympics usually take 10-20 years to finally pay off all the debts? There wouldn't be too many 'safe' cities which could actually afford them these days.

Hoopie, it will affect their bartering power in future Olympics if stars don't show for this one. They will have to prove that it wont be the case again

Lemanis jumps to wishful thinking, assuming that Boguts "100% committed" quote can be taken as absolute, unchangeable fact. I think he thinks if he publicly declares he's there, somehow Bogut will feel compelled to play regardless. Probably the only tactic that he could use with Boguts attendance clearly in the balance at this point.

I am glad to hear that Basketball Australia will, themselves, be looking into the Zika issue.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/olympics-2016/australias-basketball-coach-andrej-lemanis-tells-of-relief-after-andrew-bogut-commits-to-rio-games-despite-concerns-over-zika-virus/news-story/9bf023753fcace07f87755fa821f74c1

I think people are also forgetting, it's an event meant to be for amateurs and not professionals. So be glad any pros rock up

Be glad any pros rock up? lol. The Olympics have evolved, Ricey. This isn't ancient Greece and we aren't wrestling naked in the mud for a portion of silver coins.

This is about the world's BEST competing against each other. I don't think that should change just so you can bring your humanitarian effort to more third world shit holes.

Well duh, obviously it wouldn't be the same without the pros, but if you're going to nitpick at things why don't we start with what the games are meant to originally be for huh? Or doesn't that fit your narrative.

ME, you do realise pro ballers didn't play until the 80s right. Few years ahead of the ancient Olympics. Nice try though.

Ummmm the dream team was able to enter because they lifted the ban on pro ballers. Again, originally the games are for amateurs. So if you want things to be all wholesome, and great for people, why not go back to the way it was before the son of Adi Dassler changed sports forever with the Olympics and World Cup. Read up on how the Olympics and World Cup got to be the financial juggernauts they are now. There's a book all about ADIDAS vs Puma. You'll learn a thing or two.

Oh, and never said Olympics should have its games in places for humanitarian reasons, however you people have said Beijing is and was a bad choice due to human rights issues. Hmmmmmm. Odd comment to make in hindsight isn't it

Oh, and this quote from 4 hours ago on sports illustrated "No basketball player has withdrawn due to concerns about political unrest or the Zika virus in Brazil." I highly doubt these guys would pull out and not give the actual reason, especially Westbrook

"Well duh, obviously it wouldn't be the same without the pros, but if you're going to nitpick at things why don't we start with what the games are meant to originally be for huh? Or doesn't that fit your narrative."

No, it doesn't fit my narrative because it is stupid. Olympics haven't been about that for a long time. Get with it. The Olympics will stop being a global cultural phenomena if they return to being an amateur competition. It is not an amateur competition. This is not about restoring the the Olympics to some imagined 'former glory'.

"ME, you do realise pro ballers didn't play until the 80s right. Few years ahead of the ancient Olympics. Nice try though."

Oh wise one, please tell me more? I hadn't realized that the 1992 Dream Team was the first Olympic team with NBA basketball players. Please inform me about how Pippen and Jordan made a point of shutting down Toni Kukoc. I really need that history lesson right about now.

Point remains, there have been professionals there for 24 years now. It is now a professional competition. Your stance makes NO sense.

"Ummmm the dream team was able to enter because they lifted the ban on pro ballers. Again, originally the games are for amateurs. So if you want things to be all wholesome, and great for people, why not go back to the way it was before the son of Adi Dassler changed sports forever with the Olympics and World Cup. Read up on how the Olympics and World Cup got to be the financial juggernauts they are now. There's a book all about ADIDAS vs Puma. You'll learn a thing or two."

It is good for no ones business or entertainment value to return the Olympics back to an amateur competition, and your reasons for wanting to do so are vague at best. Something something lets hold Olympics in shit holes something something travel... am I right?

"Oh, and never said Olympics should have its games in places for humanitarian reasons, however you people have said Beijing is and was a bad choice due to human rights issues. Hmmmmmm. Odd comment to make in hindsight isn't it"

No. It is about not holding the Olympics in places where athletes will likely pull out because of it. Of course some athletes will pull out to protest human rights violations. How do you equate that to the fact that they shouldn't host Olympics in places where water sanitation and living standards aren't up to code? In an earlier comment, you spoke about players wanting to travel to other countries to experience sport there. I never occurred to you that people are pulling out of Rio because they DON'T want to experience sport there. And then, later on you shrug that off and say return it to an amateur competition? Errr... Dafuq?

"Oh, and this quote from 4 hours ago on sports illustrated "No basketball player has withdrawn due to concerns about political unrest or the Zika virus in Brazil." I highly doubt these guys would pull out and not give the actual reason, especially Westbrook "

The trend is 'I have spoken to my family and we have decided that its best for me to stay home'. Those are codewords for 'Rio is a shithole and I am not fucking with that shit'.

I think with Ricey it all comes back to some vague humanitarian and travel effort. He doesn't even make sense anymore. It is frustrating watching him try to grapple with some pretty standard logic. It is like giving a robot a irreconcilable difference and watching it combust.

Ricey, no one wants your amateur league Olympics held in Mongolia. You do realize the NBA was once semi professional, right? Well how about we move it back to that and make dribbling and dunks illegal, yeah? Because that is the way it used to be done? So they can hold NBA games in a small town in Buttfuck Idaho, get no sponsorship, and no one will give a shit. Makes sense, right? Well that is basically your attempt at common sense.

Quit with your garble, dude.

Was responding to anon actually.

Typo. 90s obviously. It kind of does make sense when you're so upset about the financial side of things. Oh and yes it was a phenomenon prior to the 92 Olympics. It just wasn't as profitable until Dassler introduced Olympics to this new concept of sports marketing.

I'm not saying we need to return to amateur. You haven't read what I said clearly. I was making a point about your silly arguments between you both.

Athletes have pulled out of China. They will pull out of America too possibly, or even Australia. Not everyone is worried about the same thing as you. Some may worry for no reason over a virus they will never get, and some will worry about wars raged on countries by the USA, or the humanitarian efforts not made in Australia. Living situations, like in some of our own third world areas, that like in Brazil wouldn't affect the athletes? Again, you can't make everyone happy. So in one instance you're saying we can't do that, and then saying we should still try?

Again, unless they come out and say it, you're just guessing at best. Other athletes have been open about the subject, so why wouldn't they?

......

Yes I did Anon. I said yes essentially, but for other reasons. You seem to be worried still about athletes pulling out though for something that won't affect them. That being Zika.

How many first rate choices never committed in the first place for other Olympics in other countries that are "safe"? Does that mean we shouldn't host those places again because it wasn't the first desired team?

Check that book anon. You'll learn why and how long they have been getting big dollars. It wasn't because they had professionals competing. They had people interested on a global level before the pros, it wasn't some local tournament with hicks playing before either.

Your point isn't proven because somebody says "I don't feel like going" especially when that's been the reason given many times by many athletes. Unless they say otherwise you're simply guessing and hoping it to be true.

Yeah, the basketball is so watered down now with Cousins maybe making the team. He is such a scrub right? Like how did he ever make an NBA team. Dude barely scores or rebounds. The rest of that paragraph is really just pointless.

So you're talking about one sport, that isn't even remotely affected by the actual issues at Rio. Congratulations, you won a purple star today little Johnny.

....

Again, I said basketball hasn't been pro that long. I never talked about the other sports. I also mentioned where funding first began and where to get the information on how that all started.

....

Again, neither said anything about trying to make it humanitarian or hold it in Mongolia. Which would be awesome by the way, only that it would be cold as shit and nowhere other than Ulanbator to hold it. Also never said it should be amateur.

And rice out... Hopefully people actually read this time and don't just try to force words into ones mouth. And hopefully can see the fairly obvious sarcasm in past posts also.

Ricey, just admit you were wrong rather than pretend we didn't understand your tone when you wrote the ridiculous things you did repeatedly with utter conviction.

Because that's what I said... Rice out

Lol, that would be a good quote to use, but you took a little long to pull it out. Better luck next time. Anyways. I'm finished here. Good day little ladies. may Buddha bless your tiny little hearts

Ah that Billy Madison quote. It never gets old.

Zika may not pose much of a threat to your average male, but I wonder if it would be bad enough to deprive a Professional athlete of their edge?

Its spread by mozzies, and they are hard to eradicate.

You won't find many cleaner cities than Singapore, but several years back they were in the grip of a Dengue outbreak. So its not just rural areas in dirty third world countries.

That said, I'd think basket-ballers and others playing in indoor venues would be amongst the safest. I imagine they would fit all the doors with air-curtains and periodically fumigate.
Not sure I'd want to be an equestrian, road-cyclist, or rower though.

Looks like Bogut might not even need to resort to the Zika excuse.

Haha... my thoughts exactly.