By Samuel Studer
In 2009, Rio de Janeiro learned it would host this year’s Summer Olympics. It was a time to celebrate, and the residents of Brazil and Rio did. They would show off the picturesque city to millions of people all over the world. They would be the first Olympics in South America, leaving a legacy and improving the quality of life.
Rio started a project to try to address the urban problems that the city faced. One of the biggest issues was mobility. People had trouble getting around because there was limited access to buses, trains, and light rails. This became the major focus as the games approached. For residents, getting more access to these types of transit would reduce the travel time to and from work.
The city also found an interesting way to try to save money. Money has been a major topic because people do not want to break the bank in order to host the Olympics, especially because Brazil’s economy has not been the most stable. Most of the budget has come from the private sector. The city has worked to attract investments from individuals and businesses, helping to change the focus of government money.
Rio has also tried to ensure that the sports areas will not be useless after the Olympics. Officials decided to go for simplicity while maintaining Olympic quality and tried to leave a legacy in the area. In many underprivileged communities, officials plan on giving the facilities to the communities after the games; they do not want the venues they built to go unused after the Games. Olympic areas in other cities have gone unused, and the money that the countries invested has gone to waste. Building facilities that will be used after the Games will help everyone.
This is a very ambitious project, because there was so much to accomplish, and the organizers have faced it in the best way they know: hard work. The city is much better than it was few years back. The eyes of the world are on Rio right now, and people need to realize how far the city has come.
It is a priority to make the city a better place while not breaking the bank. Everyone can be a winner because of how much the Games can affect the city. Athletes will have amazing faculties, and the community will be much better off because of all the improvements that will have been made.
Take a second before you talk bad about the Summer Olympics. Rio has gone through a major rejuvenation in the past few years, and the Olympics will help not only the athletes but also the community. The Olympics are right around the corner, and it will be interesting to see how the venues look.