Rio de Janeiro wins bid for 2016 Olympics (safe, place, culture)

[eskercurve]

Originally Posted by Ambassador

You know absolutely nothing about Brazil, let alone Rio de Janeiro. You managed to get it wrong with every single statement of yours....that is usually hard to do.

Have you ever even been to Brazil? If so, the last time must have been back in the 80s or even before. You are in need of a serious reality check and some new education if that is your view of Rio de Janeiro.

No actually .. I'm white and they see a white person and think "oooh, money!" And when I wasn't being crowded for money, I was nervous because I noticed people following me. I had a taxi pick me up and if it wasn't for a police officer noticing me yelling for help I would have been kidnapped, probably murdered, as I wasn't carrying much cash. I saw a murder, a couple people having sex in alleys, desperately poor people, and a huge tourist district. Get real.


AND ALL THIS HAPPENED IN 2002! GET OVER IT! BRAZIL SUCKS!

[Gossimer]

Originally Posted by BRAZILIAN

Thank you very much for your words about Rio and Brazil.
Come visit us. We wait open arms.

Thank you Brazilian. I intend to visit Brazil within the next several years. Aside from the country, Brazilian women are some of the most beautiful on the entire planet.

[Boxcar Overkill]

Rio was an awesome choice.

[ymmud123]

As far as I know, LA was the last city to make money out of hosting the olympics. Everywhere else had ended up in debt from having the games.
I think we as a people have a lot of things that we should be working on toward the betterment of our cities rather than obtaining something that will put us further in debt!

[Boxcar Overkill]

Good for Brazil, you guys deserve it.

[checking out]

Great things always happen. Looking forward to watching.

[eskercurve]

The major issues facing Rio are this:

1) Lack of infrastructure. They're going to have to MASSIVELY invest in their infrastructure (highways, buildings, facilities) to get it done. I can't imagine it being done well ... they only have about 7 years left.

2) Crime. Yes, crime is an issue. I nearly got kidnapped there because I'm a white USA citizen. Thank God not all the cops there are corrupt.

3) Drugs. Yes, druglords are in teh country and will likely see this as a potential market.

4) Prostitution. I refer you to Google to fill in the blanks on this one.

5) Social inequities. The difference between the rich and poor in Brazil is staggering.


But given all these things, I truly hope they can pull it off without resorting to massive forced relocations, quashing of civil liberties, and screwing over the local populace.

[eskercurve]

The major issues facing Rio are this:

1) Lack of infrastructure. They're going to have to MASSIVELY invest in their infrastructure (highways, buildings, facilities) to get it done. I can't imagine it being done well ... they only have about 7 years left.

2) Crime. Yes, crime is an issue. I nearly got kidnapped there because I'm a white USA citizen. Thank God not all the cops there are corrupt.

3) Drugs. Yes, druglords are in teh country and will likely see this as a potential market.

4) Prostitution. I refer you to Google to fill in the blanks on this one.

5) Social inequities. The difference between the rich and poor in Brazil is staggering.


But given all these things, I truly hope they can pull it off without resorting to massive forced relocations, quashing of civil liberties, and screwing over the local populace. Good luck, you guys need it.

[7 Wishes]

Originally Posted by Gossimer

As for the continent of South America, I sincerely believe that Argentina should host a Winter Olympics sometime soon. Argentina is a beautiful country as well, and certainly has the huge mountains and plenty of snow for the event. I have plenty of Argentinean friends and judging from them, Argentinians are some of the most intelligent people on the planet.

I like the idea of having a Winter Olympics in Argentina (most people here in the Northern Hemisphere probably don't think of it as a "winter sports" country and it would go a long way to show otherwise), but I don't see it happening for the same reason I don't see it ever happening in New Zealand or Chile, which also have big skiing facilities.

Being in the Southern Hemisphere means that "winter" occurs during "summer" in the Northern Hemisphere. Unfortunately, the majority of the countries and more important to the IOC, the TV watchers of the Olympics live in the Northern half.

The two Australian Olympics (1956 and 2000) were held in their spring (i.e. "fall" in the Northern H), but Melbourne and Sydney are close enough to the equator that while not "tropical", springs are warm by northern US and European standards, making it doable. Otherwise I see those as having not happened either as the IOC probably imagines that their core constituencies won't watch the "Summer" Olympics as much if it were held in the dead of "Winter", it would kind of be like "Christmas in July". The fact that the 2000 Olympics were held in late Sept/early Oct (vs. late Nov/early Dec when the 1956 ones were held) I think is evidence of my theory of the increasing power of TV, etc. in this kind of decision (some say the only major thing in Chicago's favor was time zones vs. a large US TV audience, but Rio is within US time zones too (or close to it), which combined with being on a continent without an Olympics, is why I thought they'd win (I thought Chicago would be 2nd though)). A South African Summer Olympics if it ever happens would also be an area where spring is "warm" so it would probably also be held in Sept or Oct. I personally think for this reason (and not for decades) the first African Olympics will actually be held in Egypt or Morocco if the Middle East political issues ever somewhat work out.

Time of year would be more critical for holding a Winter Olympics, and while what I'm saying is quite predjudicial, I think at least for the next few decades is how the IOC would think. Sorry. But congrats to Brazil for getting a South American Olympics, it's long overdue. I guess Africa is the last Olympic frontier now.

[Aylalou]

I will add my congrats to Rio too! My bet was on you all along.