Brazilians drop Games hopes to aid flood victims

Less than three months from the Olympic Games in Paris, some Brazilian athletes from the devastated state of Rio Grande do Sul are giving up their dreams to compete on the global sporting stage for a good cause.

They are staying at home to help with the rescue of victims of the severe floods.

Rowers Evaldo Becker and Piedro Tuchtenhagen, due to compete in the qualifying phase for the Olympic Games in the lightweight double sculls category, decided to drop their sporting quest and join volunteers saving stranded neighbours, finding them shelter and distributing aid.

"I said: 'Piedro, I can't do it any more"" Becker told Reuters by telephone.