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Comcast's NBCUniversal says it's confident about Olympics amid Zika fears, Brazil turmoil

NEW YORK - The troubles in Rio de Janeiro heading into next month's Olympic Games seem at times more imposing than track and field's high hurdles.

The Olympic beach volleyball site on Copacabana beach, Rio de Janeiro. Construction delays have plagued the Games, though all event venues are now finished.
The Olympic beach volleyball site on Copacabana beach, Rio de Janeiro. Construction delays have plagued the Games, though all event venues are now finished.Read moreAP

NEW YORK - The troubles in Rio de Janeiro heading into next month's Olympic Games seem at times more imposing than track and field's high hurdles.

There are the spread of the Zika virus, the struggles of Brazil's economy, long-standing political unrest among Brazilian citizens, unfinished Olympic venues, and sewage in the bay that runs along Rio's famed beaches.

But as Comcast's NBCUniversal prepares to bring about 6,700 hours of television and online streaming coverage of Rio into American homes - from the first soccer matches on Aug. 3 through Aug. 21 - the company's top executives say they remain confident that things will go right.

"You can never be sure of anything in this world, but I'm pretty hopeful and reasoned - with lots of people and experts telling me so - that for our employees, our broadcasts, our guests, they're going to have an incredible experience," Comcast CEO Brian Roberts said, previewing the Games for reporters Monday afternoon at Rockefeller Center.

Roberts said he had taken part in a review of Olympic security a few hours before the media event. About 86,000 police and other security workers will be deployed across the beach-lined and slum-plagued metropolis to try to keep the Games safe, he said.

Still, there is only so much that even Comcast's deep pockets can do.

In particular, the spread of the Zika virus - which can cause birth defects in babies born to pregnant women bitten by infected mosquitoes - remains a big concern.

The World Health Organization has said the virus will have less impact on the Olympics than originally believed. Among the reasons is Rio's location in the Southern Hemisphere, which means that it's winter there, when mosquitoes are less prevalent.

But public fears remain high.

Big-name athletes who are staying away from Rio because of Zika include golfers Vijay Singh, Rory McIlroy, and U.S. Open champion Dustin Johnson. Among the stars who are going but have publicly expressed concerns are tennis superstar Serena Williams and Hope Solo, goalkeeper of the U.S. women's soccer team.

Fans traveling to Rio should consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's extensive guidelines at philly.com/CDCZika.

NBC Sports Group chairman Mark Lazarus will oversee nearly 2,000 employees in Rio. Lazarus said that employees were given the option of staying home from Brazil, but that "very few people, under a handful, have declined."

One who did decline was Today anchor Savannah Guthrie, who said in June that she was pregnant and would not be part of the network's coverage in order to avoid contracting the Zika virus. No other high-profile members of NBC's broadcast team have said they withdrew from making the trip.

Another big concern is political unrest in Brazil caused by the government's financial struggles and the impeachment of president Dilma Rousseff.

In mid-June, Rio de Janeiro's governor declared a financial state of emergency because the state that is home to the Games' host city lacked the money to finish necessary preparations. That includes cleaning up sewage and other pollution in the bay that will host Olympic sailing events. A subway line to the athletes' village and the Olympic Park will open just days before the Games begin.

Some good news came with confirmation a few days ago that construction is done at all Olympic event venues. The cycling arena was the last building checked off the list.

"From our team that's down there, which is a lot of people, our logistics people say they're done," Lazarus said. "So . . . I'm confident in the infrastructure."

Still, Olympics fans hoping that a Games in the Americas would persuade NBC to finally broadcast the Opening Ceremonies live will be disappointed again.

Even though Rio de Janeiro's time zone is just one hour ahead of the U.S. East Coast's, the much-watched spectacle will be televised and streamed online on a delayed basis starting at 8 p.m. Eastern. The ceremonies will start at 8 p.m. Rio time, which is 7 p.m. Eastern.

It will be a "curated" experience, Lazarus said, one that will "give context to the show . . . so that it's not just a flash of color."

The controversies may not hurt interest in the Olympics in the United States. Neal Pilson, a veteran TV industry consultant, said the effect could be the opposite.

"I don't mean to be cynical, but I think the public will be even more curious to see if everything works out in Rio," he said, "and will tune in in possibly larger numbers than they might otherwise."

Sponsors have not held back, either. NBC says it has sold $1.1 billion in advertising 3 1/2 weeks before the Games start, well ahead of the $1 billion total that the 2012 Summer Olympics in London produced.

jtannenwald@phillynews.com

@jtannenwald