From bad housing and crime to contaminated water and Zika, the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio have featured a ton of drama and they haven’t even officially started. While athletes are dealing with the conditions, they’re also dealing with the greatest challenge of all – no access to Pokemon Go.
Pokemon Go has launched in more than 30 countries/territories but it has yet to roll out in Brazil. Athletes venturing to Rio who have the app will be able to open up the game while in Rio, but they won’t find any Pokemon, Pokestops or gyms in the country.
Various athletes have already complained about their very first-world problem.
No Pokemon in Deodoro Olympic venue! Or in Brazil!?? 💔😩📍 @NianticLabs @PokemonGoApp @Pokemon #PokemonGO #Rio2016 pic.twitter.com/xiRMcqhXfV
— Joe Clarke MBE (@joeclarkek1) July 26, 2016
Only level six? Let’s hope Clarke is better at kayaking than he is at becoming a Pokemon Master.
Anna Green, a soccer player from New Zealand, also commented on the lack of Pokemon.
“I wish I could run around in the [athletes’] village catching Pokémon. I just can’t get it on the phone. It’s fine, but it would have been something fun to do.”
Other Olympians stated they would train and spend time meeting other athletes since they won’t be able to bury themselves in the world of Pokemon.
Rio has so many issues to deal with heading into and during the Olympics that maybe it’s best that Pokemon Go, a game which is also riddled with bugs and problems at the current time, isn’t an additional distraction.
