Rio Olympics - the fallout

Rio is experiencing “the greatest transformation” of any Olympic city, according to Brazilian officials, as Rio de Janeiro Olympics open in less than a month; but the poor say it’s come at a cost to them as some are pushed out of their homes to make way for Olympic infrastructure.

They further complained that even the buses are re-routed from slums to prevent those who live there from accessing “upscale areas”. Media-reports cite Raquel Oliveira, a 25-year-old publicist, as complaining that bus routes have been changed, as a security measure to make it difficult for criminal gangs to access upscale areas. Australia and several countries have instructed their athletes to stay away from Rio’s northern favelas, the city’s infamous slums.

About 10,500 athletes and up to 500,000 foreign visitors are expected to descend on the city for the games. Critics opine, few will see the real Rio, as Brazil sees it's worst recession since the 1930s, giving rise to soaring crime and unemployment over 10 per cent. Most can’t afford an Olympic ticket or a $US100 souvenir soccer ball emblazoned with the Olympic logo.

Rio’s organisers have budgeted about $US2 billion ($A2.67 billion) for operations. In addition, another $US10 billion-$US12 billion in public and private money is being spent on urban transportation projects driven by the Olympics.

Rio has installed new high-speed buses and a light-rail system to serve downtown. And there’s a still-unfinished $US3 billion subway line extension to connect the upscale Copacabana and Ipanema beach areas with the western suburb of Barra da Tijuca - site of the Olympic Park. It’s unclear if the subway line will be running when the event opens.

Gustavo Nascimento, Rio’s venue management director, promises everything will be ready. He said a massive clean-up of the venues is set for July 15, and athletes are to have access to the venues on July 24. The event opens on August 5.