Reality of Rio

by Jessica Yu

This summer, the Olympic games at Rio have been covering every headline, with many athletes breaking incredible world records and showcasing their skills and talent. The pictures we see online highlight the beautiful Olympic venue, but the reality of Rio is quite bleak. Behind the excitement and chaos of the Olympics are the city’s residents, who have been displaced in order to build the Olympic venue. This is an act of gentrification, where the many homes of Rio residents have been demolished and hundreds of families are evicted in order to clean up the city for Olympic spectators. New apartments that are being constructed for the families who have been evicted are located even further from the inner city, in order to prevent the mingling of tourists and foreigners with the city’s inhabitants. ​

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Of course, hosting the Olympic games can bring in a lot of tourism and boost the economy, but the sacrifices that must be made in order to prepare for the games can be detrimental to the country’s residents. Governments, like Rio, are brushing aside and covering up problems such as drugs and violence in their community to appeal to visitors. Buildings with historical value are being demolished without batting an eye and the lives of families are being thrown off just to make the city more luxurious and urban. It is important to realize that behind the fun and games of the Olympics, is the reality that Rio residents must face every day for the rest of their lives. The Olympic games are only 16 days, but the people who actually live in the city are there forever. Is it really worth it to evict residents and destroy homes in place for a gym venue? ​