Rio mayor Eduardo Paes: 'The Olympics are a missed opportunity for Brazil' | Cities | The Guardian

 

"Every host city faces controversy in the build-up to the mega-event, but a combination of recession, security breakdowns, the Zika epidemic, the Brazil president’s impeachment, budget cuts, infrastructure delays, environmental scares and complaints about displacement and gentrification have inflicted serious damage on the images of both Brazil and Rio. "

"Critics claim the mayor is directing a disproportionate amount of Olympic funds towards the wealthy Barra da Tijuca region on the western side of the city, where Paes cut his political teeth.

This is where several of his campaign backers have major projects. One of them, Carlos Carvalho, told the Guardian last year he planned to make Barra the centre of Rio – even if it meant driving out the poor so a “noble” elite could move in."

"This is disputed by social activists and academics, who point out that most of the new roads and transport links take people to and from Barra. They argue Paes is aggressively promoting the gentrification of the city, even if it means forcing many people out of their homes.

The number of relocations is fiercely disputed. Leftwing critics claim the mayor has moved more than 50,000 people – a higher number than any of his predecessors. Paes says these are wildly exaggerated claims spread by his political rivals. He puts the number of relocations in the hundreds for directly Olympic-related projects, or the low thousands if the new rapid bus systems are included."

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Rio mayor Eduardo Paes: 'The Olympics are a missed opportunity for Brazil' | Cities | The Guardian