Dead fish cover Brazil's Olympic sailing venue, Olympic Committee remains pleased

RIO DE JANEIRO, Feb. 26 (UPI) -- Thousands of dead fish were discovered in Brazil's sailing venue for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, but the International Olympic Committee said the city is making "solid progress" in its preparations.

The dead fish covered parts of the water in the often-polluted Guanabara Bay. An investigation has been launched with results due in about a week.

Officials predict the fish died due to drought.

IOC officials visited Rio de Janeiro recently and reported that the "venues are taking shape" for the 2016 Summer Olympic Games scheduled for August 2016.

Rio Olympic venue.Sailing will be here. Dead fish, soiled diapers pigeon feast. Go for gold. pic.twitter.com/JYYbnyJtD4

— Chris Scheer (@chris_scheer) January 14, 2015

"It's not easy," city governor Luiz Fernando Pezao said. "Every time we have a negotiation, the bidding process [for the project] slows and postpones things."

City government officials recently admitted the goal of reducing water pollution by 80 percent for the Olympics would not be met. Olympic sailors competed in a test event last August and complained about floating debris, including dead animals. Sewage is pumped into the bay, about 48 percent of it untreated.

The city is spending about $13.7 billion on the 2016 Olympic games. IOC Vice President John Coates said Rio de Janeiro was the "worst" prepared host city he had ever seen, opposing the committee's ongoing support.

International Olympic Committee (IOC) chief says he is 'very satisfied' with #Rio2016 progress http://t.co/5Sgf0gRx77 pic.twitter.com/c5wZEvhFAh

— Panamericanworld (@panamworldnews) February 26, 2015