Long before the Olympic torch was lit in Rio de Janeiro, the city’s economic and health concerns were heated issues debated by reporters and Olympic fanatics alike.

These issues resulted in the lack of attendance of the many athletes who chose to protect themselves from Zika and the political turmoil in Brazil.

Financial reasons aside, the Zika virus – stemming from Brazil itself – was a large factor to consider when deciding to host the Games in Rio. Hundreds of thousands of sports fans attend the summer and winter Games every two years, and seeing as Zika is so easily contracted, it is possible that the Games were a way that the virus could have spread to the home countries of spectators and athletes – a risk both unnecessary and unwarranted.

Despite Zika’s sickly grip on Rio, Brazil’s unstable economy was reason enough to cancel the Games. Although the decision for Rio to host the Games was made at a time when the city was growing economically, the country is currently in a recession not dissimilar to the Great Depression. Brazil’s lack of monetary stability has also caused the loss of funds for the police officers – something I believe is a necessity in a country notorious for its high crime rate.

At what point does the committee decide that enough is enough?

Brazil’s political situation did not justify an international event being held in its city brimming with over nine million citizens. The country’s president, Dilma Rousseff, was suspended from office in May as an impeachment trial takes place for her alleged manipulation of government accounts.

Was the IOC blind to the turmoil of Brazil?

The city has more than a few internal issues, such as high crime rate and harrowing poverty. By hosting the Games, over 75 thousand people were evicted from their homes in order to build the Olympic Village and sporting facilities. In a country where many citizens already live in favelas – or extremely poor neighborhoods – I wonder how the IOC could justify taking away the only chance at a home that Brazilians have.

Despite the IOC’s best intentions for the Brazilian city, Rio’s many complications should have made the world think twice before proceeding with the Olympics.