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Gov. Chris Christie.

(Aristide Economopoulos/NJ Advance Media)

TRENTON -- Gov. Chris Christie had some last minute advice for Olympic rowers set to compete Friday evening: "Keep your mouths closed."

The governor, speaking on a morning sports radio show, trashed the Brazilian city hosting this year's Olympics, calling Rio de Janeiro a "garage dump" amid reports the city's waterways are contaminated with raw human sewage teeming with dangerous viruses and bacteria.

"Keep their mouths closed while their rowing. You heard about that, right?" Christie asked his morning co-hosts of WFAN's Boomer and Carton.

"Keep your mouths closed so that the water doesn't go in your mouth," the governor said.

Christie, when asked by co-host Craig Carton if he had "any legitimate interest" in the Olympics this year, responded: "I really don't."

Christie continued: "And by the way, the whole garbage dump that is Rio, you know, it's just disgusting and it shows you how corrupt the (International Olympic Committee) is."

On Monday, a 16-month-long study commissioned by The Associated Press was released and found 1,400 athletes are at risk of getting violently ill in water competitions and that tourists face potentially serious health risks on the golden beaches of Ipanema and Copacabana in Rio de Janeiro.

Christie's insistence that rowers not open their mouths mirrored the advice of biomedical expert Valerie Harwood, who told the AP that travelers to the city shouldn't put their heads under water.

The most contaminated points are the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon, where Olympic rowing will take place, and the Gloria Marina, the starting point for the sailing races, according to the report.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MatthewArco or on Facebook. Follow NJ.com Politics on Facebook.