Pokemon No: Good Luck Catching Them All In Rio This Summer

As athletes and fans gear up for the 2016 Olympics, they will more than likely have some downtime [...]

By Matthew Aguilar

Pokemon GO Rio No Pokemon

As athletes and fans gear up for the 2016 Olympics, they will more than likely have some downtime in between training and site seeing. Some, including Rio's mayor, had hoped that they would be able to catch some exotic Pokemon during that downtime, but unfortunately, that will not be the case.

That's because the game is still not available in Brazil, so if you pull the game up you'll see lots of open green space with nary a Pokemon to be found. While there has been a push to get the game released in time for the Olympic games, developer of Pokemon GO Niantic has yet to put a date on the games release in the territory.

On social media, athletes and fans alike are expressing their disappointment with the news (via ESPN). Anna Green, a soccer player from New Zeland, posted on Twitter "I wish I could run around in the [athletes'] village catching Pokemon. I just can't get it on the phone. It's fine, but it would have been something fun to do." Since catching Pokemon is out of the question, she'll just fill the time with more training.

Elsewhere in Twitterville, British Canoer Joe Clark posted a screenshot of his avatar in the game and expressed his dismay over the lack of anything to do.

"No Pokemon in Deodoro Olympic venue! Or in Brazil!?? 💔😩📍"

Others are making plans to be without the digital distraction, like Matthew Sarmento, a Canadian field hockey player. Sarmento acknowledged not having the game would give him more opportunities to meet other athletes. Still, he would've liked the option to play.

"Sometimes it's good to take your mind off the important things and let yourself chill."

Players can still access the map within the game, but it isn't populated with Pokemon, Pokestops, or Gyms. That might lend credence to rumors that Niantic is trying to prep the game in time for the Olympics, but there is no official confirmation that it's coming anytime soon to Brazil.

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