Olympic Goo - Algae Invades Qingdao Sailing Venue

Qingdao, China - With all of the preparations China has made for the Olympic games, there is one factor that wasn't accounted for: "The Goo." A strain of algae called Enteromorpha Prolifera has invaded the area, and is taking up more than a third of the Olympic sailing courses. This isn't what you would find in a swimming pool. Stringy, slimy and notably smelly, this explosion of Olympic Goo floats on the surface, forming thick mats, and looks something like day-glow seaweed. Sailing through it isn't going to be an option, and China knows it.

Officials had hoped that the recent year's decline in the problem would continue through the games, but some say this is the worst bloom in years. China is combating the problem by sending thousands of fishermen and students out to clean it up - by hand! With five weeks to go before the games, sailors will need every bit of training time on the courses they can get, and the massive manpower has been rallied in the hope of cleaning up the bright green masses within the next two weeks. Qingdao Olympic Sailing Committee member Yuan Zhiping told reporters "We have stressed to all the people devoted to this campaign that the priority should [be] given to the Olympic venue and we expect to eliminate all these sea weeds before 15 July."

Algae blooms such as this aren't uncommon in China, and are often attributed to the discharge of nitrogen (chemical pollutants, sewage and fertilizers) in the water. However, Chinese officials are attributing this case to temperature and salinity. An estimated 1,000 boats and 10,000 people are currently involved in the clean-up, and over 100,000 tons of the stinking goo have been removed. This same algae exists on shoresides all over the world, and you've probably slipped on it once or twice if you travel. Known in Hawaii as Limu ‘ele‘ele, Enteromorpha Proliferaso is actually edible. Olympic Goo-Pops, anyone?

- BH for YachtPals

Read the update about sailing at the Olympics: Spy Drones, Algae, and Dirty Air - Sailing at the Olympics

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• Olympic sailing: Olympics
• China: China
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Video: Algae at the Olympics in China