While some people have earnestly been counting how many prizes and awards their countries have won in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, many have not yet realized the truth that the media has been hiding. They have yet to show the real dark side of what is happening too often in Rio: violent crimes that must not be overlooked so easily.
The Games were an ideal event for people to get together to promote peace and unity through sports. Even though the audience enjoyed a variety of sports, many noticed the poor conditions Rio de Janeiro had to offer.
Athletes and journalists complained that their living conditions were far from suitable. They shared concerns about their lodgings which either had no electricity at all, were flooded, or had collapsed sinks.
“We believe a bed is not vital for sleep,” Dallas Mavericks center Andrew Bogut said. “Fine tuned athletes can sleep standing up.”
Even though many disapproving people have attempted to protest against the Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games, they failed to realize the real-life consequences behind the games.
Behind every fierce competition, standing ovation and ceremony stood 3,000 homeless Brazilians from the Villa Autodromo favela whose homes had to be demolished because of the stadium’s construction.
Brazil has actually been facing its greatest economic recession in 100 years, causing poverty to spread throughout the whole country. Because poverty is making citizens feel unsafe and insecure, violence breaks out between people.
There are many more problems that are happening because of people’s poor conditions such as the country’s political crises since its transition to democracy or its fight against the Zika virus, a potential global health crisis spreading throughout the world through mosquito.
With so many problems happening outside the stadium, people’s attention still remain in the arena. But of course, there is no one else to blame but the media, who only reports on events far more important such as the green pool problem that emerged during the diving competitions.
The world was shocked to hear from the media about how foreign team officials and government ministers had been mugged or how people that had previously volunteered for the Olympics never showed up. But how many people have heard about the shootings that happen daily on the streets of Rio? Or about Brazil’s problem with their sewage filled waters?
As the world celebrated the closing ceremony for the Olympics, many Brazilians wondered to themselves whether the loud crackles were coming from the Olympics’ fireworks or whether they were coming from the gunshots on their neighboring streets.
It is important to applaud for athletes’ accomplishments. but it is also important to reach out your hands to people in need.
Next time a pool turns green due to bacterium, try to imagine what that must be like for the people who live with it. As the Tokyo Games approach, it is important to remember that every time you clap or cheer, someone had to make a sacrifice.
……… the Olympics’ fireworks or whether they were coming from the gun shootings on their neighboring streets.
It is important to applaud for athlete’s accomplishments but it is also important to reach out your hand to people in need.
Next time a pool turns green due to bacterium, try to imagine what that must be like for the people who live with it. Every time you clap, remember that someone had to make a sacrifice.
TCHS School Newspaper