In the year 2009, Brazil stood up tall to the world and made a successful bid to host the 2016 Olympics. The country was doing well politically and economically and was one of the brightest developing countries. Brazil’s economy was seeing an upward curve and the government was doing so much right. They had literally pulled out 30 million people from below the poverty line.
But now in 2016, with just a month to go for the opening ceremony of the Games of the XXXI Olympiad, the situation has changed for the country and its citizens.
Ever since the start of 2016, the South American nation has been in the news for all the wrong reasons. We take a look at some of the major concerns which can harm the country’s bid to conduct a successful and a memorable Olympic Games:
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#1 Zika virus
Zika is a virus related to dengue and yellow fever. It can be transmitted to the humans through a mosquito bite or sexual intercourse. When transmitted to a pregnant woman, it can cause microcephaly or severe brain malformations in their babies.
Currently, there is no cure for the virus. In Brazil alone, there have been reports of 1.5 million people being infected by the Zika virus. Ahead of the Olympics, the virus is the biggest concern as some athletes have also withdrawn from the Games due to it.
Apart from the athletes, Brazil will also be affected if they do not get the expected tourism into the country during the three-week event.
The International Olympic Committee has come forward and said that the tourists from other nations will be very safe in Brazil if they take the right precautions. But the World Health Organisation declared the spread of Zika virus as an international emergency.
Therefore, there are still major worries for fans and athletes alike because reports suggest that the virus has not been controlled in the country.
#2 Domestic Crime
Rio De Janeiro will be hosting the Olympic Games and will be the first city in South America to do so. But, for any city that finds itself capable of hosting the grandest event in sports, security is a must. However, we cannot say the same when talking about Rio. The city has been plagued by a large number of appalling crimes in recent times.
Reports have suggested that there is a huge group of mafias who have their eyes fixed on the big event. This year alone, the rate of murders in Rio has increased 15% from 2015’s figure. The police are not guaranteeing the safety of the tourists as their salaries have not been paid until now.
This has also led to the increase in non-lethal crimes like street robberies, petty thefts, and assault. Viral videos all over the internet have shown mobs looting and harassing tourists in broad daylight. The issue of homicides in other cities which will be hosting some events is a major concern as the presence of favelas (shantytowns) in these cities is huge and scattered.
The safety of women is also a big concern, but with strict laws in place, it should keep the hooligans at bay. The much-highlighted issue of drugs is also a worry as mafias throughout Brazil will target the tourists to sell their costly drugs. The drugs racket in Rio has been cleaned for the Games but nothing can be guaranteed in such matters.
Though the government has heightened the security for the event, it will be very tough for the country to provide full security to the residents and tourists.
#3 Economic Crisis
Brazil has been the subject of economic downfall since last year which has affected the budget for the Games. The recession has led to the Rio De Janeiro State to decrease the budget for the Games by 30%. The recession has been in place for the last five quarters in Brazil which has seen a great decline in their GDP.
The security personnel are also not getting their salaries due to the inability of the State to pay them. The Rio State government was declared bankrupt last week which initiated an emergency federal bailout. This could mean that the pending payments of the police and other government employees will be settled soon.
But with the police protesting inside the International Arrivals hall at the Rio airport, the number of tourists that will be expected could take a hit.
The official figure of the Rio 2016 budget indicates that Brazil have spent $2.28 billion on organising the event. But their expected income from the event stands at $2.25 billion. This is just the official figure, but many reports have suggested that Brazil has spent 10 times the official amount (close to $20 billion).
Although, incoming tourists would mean that Brazil will benefit from it when the tourists spend in their country. The major concern will be how they can afford to finance the event if any tragedy takes place before or during the Games. The real question is that should Brazil have hosted the Games during their economic crisis?
#4 Social Displacement
A big event such as the Olympics needs a lot of area and space to create the Games Village and the sporting arenas throughout the city. In Rio, that space was created by displacing a huge number of people from their homes. It is believed that around 77,000 people have been displaced by the government in Rio to create the stadiums and the Village.
These areas known as “favelas” or shantytowns have been destroyed to the core forcibly by the authorities. Such activities have left the people of these favelas with nowhere to live now. But the government of Rio has already paid around $30 million as compensation to the people they have displaced.
But some families continue to protest against the taking away of their homes by the government.
This kind of repulsion from the people of the favelas has only caused more worries for the Organising Committee of the Games as these families have planned to protest during the events so that the entire world can see what is happening in Brazil.
#5 Infrastructure
The biggest concern for Brazil and the International Olympic Committee has been the incompletion of some of the venues for the Games. Currently, with just one month to go for the Games, still there are a few minor and major problems which the builders are facing.
In April, a part of a seaside bike path which was constructed for the Games was washed down by a strong sea wave where two people died. Ever since that accident, there have been several countries who have been voicing their concerns on the matter of infrastructure which is put in place for the event.
The Brazilian government had promised its people for a much developed and advanced version of Rio when they started construction for the 2014 FIFA World Cup and Rio 2016 Games. But to the disappointment of these people, the construction has not been up to the required quality.
The Favelas were also promised that their living conditions will be improved, but instead the government has relocated them to other suburb areas of Rio. The city that is always ready for a party might not host a party this time around with the residents having to face trouble on the road (in the form of traffic) and at their homes (with the relocation).
Although IOC President, Thomas Bach, has said that he is very confident that it will be an excellent Games, it is hard to believe that Rio and its people will be happy with the price they have paid for hosting the Olympic Games.
