Rio or Bust?

Well, there’s something to think about. The Olympics are a treasured global icon of culture because it crosses national boundaries and and every ethnic culture you can think of. It resounds with human race identity rather than ethnic race divisions, or national identities, egos and all the rest.

But this time around Rio de Janiero is facing some huge problems that may sink the international games:

1. The country is bankrupt and going deeper in debt to pay for the public infrastructure to support the Games
2. Politically the nation is in terrible circumstances; they have placed their leader on suspension pending impeachment proceedings. And all the facts so far point to her removal because she was trying to fight the enormous corruption that engulfs her enemies; their response was to impeach her while they remain free to continue their shenanigans
3. Crime is rampant in Brazil AND Rio de Janiero. Group and gang rapes are wanton and in the news frequently. Gaining justice for the crimes seems almost pointless as perpetrators get off
4. The venues of the Olympic games are not yet complete and may not be in time for the Games. I feel sorry for the host country because this was a huge undertaking during trying times and very costly for them
5. Polluted waters for games involving same. The stories are horrific and we wonder if the world’s athletes are actually going to imperil their health by competing in such soiled conditions
6. Zika Virus threat is enormous. The epicenter of the mosquito borne disease is Rio itself. How many athletes and attendees will be infected by this disease? How many pregnancies will be spoiled? How many birth defects will plague our human community from this terrible threat?
7. World threat of terrorism. Yes, we still live with this. I wonder what protections are in place to protect the athletes and attendees? 

I’ll stop there. It seems that the Summer Games for 2016 are in doubt. There are even calls to postpone them until Zika, finances, political stability and crime come under far better control. Will this happen? No one knows.

If I had the money to attend I wouldn’t because of all of the above. But that’s just me. How about you?

June 9, 2016