There is less than two weeks before the Rio Olympic Games kicks off on August 5, and it will be very much anticipated. It will be the first-ever Olympic Games in Latin America and will feature the debut of rugby sevens as well as mark the return of golf after a 112-year absence. But Brazil is also plagued by the Zika virus and beset by political and economic woes, while an entire nation's sporting program caught up in a doping scandal. While controversy and Olympic Games have usually gone hand in hand, this one is setting a new mark that makes issues with all previous Games seem quaint. There is a chance that the controversies will continue right up until the Games begins.

When Rio de Janeiro was awarded the 2016 Games in 2009, Brazil was flying high. Along with the 2014 World Cup, the Games was intended to signify a developing power ready to step up onto the world stage. Unfortunately, seven years down the line, things have not worked out this way. In the lead-up to the 2014 World Cup, nationwide protests against poverty and corruption surprised many. From then, the country's economy has worsened while its politics have gotten messy. Last month, Rio police went on strike over unpaid wages and warned of rampant crime. Meanwhile, despite Rio being famous for its beaches, Rio's waters were slammed by athletes and media for being heavily polluted.

On the sporting front, Russia has been dominating headlines after the revelation of a massive state-run doping program for its athletes. The IOC eventually decided on Sunday not to issue a blanket ban on Russian athletes, leaving it up to individual federations to decide. If Russian athletes are allowed to compete, they will be under heavy suspicion while if some sports ban them but ­others ­allow them, it creates a very ­uneven situation.

Even the staid sport of golf found itself embroiled in drama as many of its top stars declined to participate in Rio, supposedly due to Zika. Yet, the vast majority of these players pulling out are male. It leads one to suspect that many of them just didn't care too much, which Rory McIlroy somewhat admitted to. It makes one wonder whether it is worth it for golf to be in the Games though this means there will be room for lesser-known golfers to shine.

Despite all this, the Games is still something to look forward to. For little countries like Trinidad and Tobago, where this writer is from, it is a chance to shine in the global spotlight, even if only for a brief moment. For the city and people of Rio, it is also the same and hopefully they will be able to overcome all these issues.

The author is a Hong Kong-based writer. hcpyip@gmail.com