Originally Published on Cristo Invicto.
You've probably already heard that the 2016 Olympics will be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It could be you don't know much about Rio or even Brazil right now, but that's likely to change over the next few years. As someone who lived in Brazil, is married to a Brazilian-American and has Brazilian-born children, I couldn't help but be familiar with the city. I've been there a few times, both to take care of business at the American consulate and on vacation. I've been to the top of both Sugarloaf Mountain and the mount where the Christ statue stands twice. I've walked the beaches and wondered at the shanty towns clinging to the hillsides. I've contemplated the violence, crime and incredible beauty of Rio de Janeiro. Now the entire world will have a look. What will hosting the 2016 games mean for Rio de Janeiro, and indeed for Brazil?
In Brazil there's talk of a "parallel power" structure in Rio. There's the official, government power, but also the unofficial criminal "authority." If a gang member is killed and the criminal lords call for stores to close in mourning, they disobey at their own risk. Rio's a city where people are cut down by stray bullets, kidnapped and held for ransom (as in other Brazilian cities), held up in broad daylight on busy streets and generally mistreated. On the other hand, citizens of Rio are proud of their majestic, historic city and the happy, active people who inhabit it. Rio de Janeiro is complex, as terrible as it is wonderful.
Hold the 2016 Olympics in Rio means that all eyes will be on that city. Perhaps now, finally, the municipal, state and federal governments will take the serious steps necessary to stamp out corruption in the police force and bring down the drug lord. Maybe the slums will receive new infrastructure and the children better opportunities. Or, maybe not. It could be that the government will just tidy things up and sweep enough trouble under the rug to keep up a good appearance through the games. I don't know.
What I do know is that this is an opportunity for me to talk more about Brazil, drawing attention to the positives and negatives while attempting to find and help implement real solutions. The 2016 Olympics could be good for Rio de Janeiro in particular, and Brazil in general. I hope and pray that this will be the case.
