2016 Rio Olympics to Use Helicopters, GPS to Clean Garbage in Guanabara Bay

The polluted water in Rio de Janeiro's Guanabara Bay has been a source of controversy and discussion leading up to the 2016 Summer Olympics in August, though a solution may have been found to ensure the athletes' safety.

Per the Associated Press (via ESPN.com), helicopters will be used starting Friday to locate "any floating rubbish," and boats will be receiving GPS coordinates to "sweep up debris before each day of Olympic sailing kicks off..."

World Sailing CEO Andy Hunt previously told the AP in May (via the New York Daily News) that cleaning up the water so that it is usable for the Olympics would take a rigorous effort: “We’re going in the right direction. We remain cautiously optimistic. It doesn’t mean we’re going to take off the pressure.”

Hunt added that special precautions are being taken to make sure athletes aren't at risk of catching anything from the waters: “There are briefings for the teams to make sure they prepare in terms of hygiene," and that they have added "facilities to wash down clothing when they come off the boats, alcohol gels, anti-viral gels and so on that can help ensure that the athletes keep well through the competition.”

As part of Thursday's AP report, Hunt said the World Sailing group has had to make "numerous unusual contingency plans to make sure the field of play is fair and safe."

Despite some efforts to clean up the water, CNN's Flora Charner reported that researchers recently discovered "a drug-resistant bacteria growing off some of Rio de Janeiro's most stunning beaches."

To combat the potential dangerous waters, United States rowers have had special antimicrobial suits made to wear. 

There are only four weeks remaining before the Olympics begin, so any efforts to clean the water have to happen quickly. Hopefully, the plan to collect debris before each day of competition is enough to at least ensure athletes aren't in any danger.