‘Olympics will add more costs than benefits’
Rio 2016 organisers have maintained their positive outlook for the legacy of the Games, despite Brazil's political upheaval and economic recession.
|||Cape Town - Rio 2016 Olympic organisers have maintained their positive outlook for the legacy of the Games, despite souring sentiment amid Brazil's political upheaval and economic recession.
In a recent poll conducted by the Datafolha institute, published in the Folha de Sao Paulo newspaper, nearly two-thirds of Brazilians believe the Olympics will bring more costs than benefits.
With an overall cost of 40-billion reais (R176bn), already higher than the original budget, Rio de Janeiro state authorities last month declared a “state of calamity” to access an extra 2.9-billion reais (R12.76bn) in federal emergency funds.
Yet, despite these and a number of other growing challenges, organisers insist that the benefits of hosting the Olympics will leave a reverberating legacy on the bustling coastal city of Rio de Janeiro.
According to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), central to their mission is to stage a sustainable event that will “generate a lasting legacy for the host city and country”.
Already in Rio de Janeiro, despite the cynical outlook enveloping the rest of the nation, the positive impact of the Olympics is noticeable, with legacy initiatives expected to further build on any growth long after the closing ceremony.
The port area in downtown Rio de Janeiro has undergone major redevelopment, changing the face of the region. After the Games, the venue used to host the handball event will be converted into four schools, while the aquatics stadium will be transformed into two public water sports facilities boasting 50m swimming pools.
The Olympic Park will also serve as the site for a new GEO school after the Games. According to the www.cidadeolimpica.rio website, the GEO, or Olympic Experimental Gymnasium, is a full-time school with the purpose of educating students through a mix of academic subjects and sports disciplines.
The specialised schools provide for Grade 6 to Grade 9 learners with a keen interest in sports, who have to maintain good academic results in order to continue pursuing their sporting ambitions. There are currently four GEO units in operation in Santa Teresa, Caju, Pedra de Guaratiba and Ilha do Governador, which have benefitted from a partnership with the Dutch Olympic Committee.
The schools are located near Rio de Janeiro's slums, or favelas and 80% of the learners hail from these impoverished areas. Learners have classes all day, with at least two hours of sport, and five daily meals are provided.
With the Olympics officially starting on August 5, hopes are still high for the first-ever Latin American host. Rio de Janeiro will have around 70 new hotels as a direct result, and the city will benefit from a vastly improved waste management system.
An influx of 15 000 athletes and 500 000 visitors are expected to descend upon the city, providing a much-needed economic boost while making the most of the improved infrastructure and transport system.
African News Agency