‘Welcome to Hell’: Rio is a disaster just weeks before the Olympics

“Olympics with unpaid police.”Silvia Izquierdo/Associated Press

With about five weeks left until the 2016 Olympics’ opening ceremony, the situation in the host city of Rio de Janeiro has gone from bad to worse.

Between the protests put on by police officers and other civic workers, several high-profile athletes dropping out over Zika fears, and body parts washing up on Copacabana Beach, where the beach volleyball events will be held, there are serious concerns about basic safety when it comes to the Summer Games.

And now the police are reportedly warning tourists that their stay won’t be too pleasant.

Another sign (via BBC) said, “The police’s priority is the people, the government’s priority is the Olympics.”

The news coming out of Rio leading up to the opening ceremony on August 5 sounds dire: Basic needs can’t be met because there isn’t enough funding. Francisco Dornelles, the acting governor of Rio de Janeiro, told the Brazilian newspaper O Globo that the state was still waiting on the promised $860 million payout from the federal government ahead of the games.

All of this could lead to more problems and make many spectators and athletes reconsider attending the games.

“I am optimistic about the games, but I have to show the reality,” Dornelles told O Globo. “We can make a great Olympics, but if some steps are not taken, it can be a big failure.”