Rio-2016 News

[gamesnz]

4 minutes ago, lovecruisingtoo said:

I am not the one making the claim - you are.  So why should I prove that your claim, that you can not substantiate, is wrong?

You are now talking about World Cup statistics.  That was when the Rio economy was doing much better.  Those statistics, in my opinion, do not apply to what the opinions are of people who are visiting now.

What does it have to do with the economy?? The statistics were on international tourists satisfaction. 

http://agenciabrasil.ebc.com.br/en/economia/noticia/2015-11/some-95-foreign-visitors-would-return-brazil-survey-says

http://www.mirror.co.uk/lifestyle/travel/usa-long-haul/brazil-world-cup-tourism-triumph-4126879

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-2701389/Brazil-welcomed-1-035-MILLION-tourists-World-Cup-final-Facebooks-talked-topic-ever.html

 

 

[Sir Rols]

57 minutes ago, lovecruisingtoo said:

I am not the one making the claim - you are.  So why should I prove that your claim, that you can not substantiate, is wrong?

You are now talking about World Cup statistics.  That was when the Rio economy was doing much better.  Those statistics, in my opinion, do not apply to what the opinions are of people who are visiting now.

Out of al the GamesBids members here who have gone to Rio for the games and written about it, all bar none have been glowing and positive about it. You might say, well, they would, but I think you'd probably find surveys of the wider visiting attendees would say the same - they're after all the people who already weren't scared off going by the pre-games scare stories, or who aren't precious about needing a First World security blanket wherever they travel. If I travel to a Rio or Kathmandu, of course I'm not going to expect the same level of amenities or environment as a San Francisco or Stockholm. But's it's not the reason I;d be going there in the first place.

[lovecruisingtoo]

I have to disagree that "all bar none have been glowing and positive".  I went and am obviously not glowing and positive.  I know many other people who are at Rio, including part of the NBC crew, who are not positive and can not wait to get home.  Look at the number of athletes that have already come home.  I bet the Closing Ceremony will be very sparse.  If it was so great, why would anyone leave when they had the chance to stay?

You mention security blanket.  One of the things I wound up being very concerned about was security at the venues.  Yes they had metal detectors.  However, I have had a knee replacement so I always set off the detectors.  I would point to my knee to try and let them know so they could get a hand wand to check me.  Guess what?  They just passed me through without any check.  I set off the detector but they just waived me on.  They did not even have any hand wands around.  I could have carried anything and they would not have known it.  Is that good, or even reasonable, security?  I don't think so.

[Sir Rols]

Okay, I didn't realise. All bar one then. CAF, Zeke, Gotosy, Hobart have all been gushing. Sorry, I may be wrong, but it sounds to me like your expectations were possibly too high or unrealistic. What did you expect in a developing country?

[lovecruisingtoo]

I expected reasonable safety.  I saw a lot of military around but not much real security.  We have been to Vancouver, London, Sochi,  and LA.  We felt much safer in all those venues than at Rio.  Even with the toothpaste bomber in Sochi, we felt much more at ease there.  They had security on each and every train and along the tracks.  In Rio, we never saw any security on any of the BRT / Metro / Trains.  In London they took away my nail clippers as being "dangerous".  As I said, I could have gotten anything into the venue and killed hundreds of people. In Rio, we saw a large pool of blood right at the Jardim Oceanico Metro station and a big gang of people attacking a person and tearing off his clothes.  No police were in sight.  I expected there to be police at the entrance to any of the metro / BRT stops to make sure that everything was safe.  It did not happen.

Thank god no terrorist activity has happened.  But in all reality it could.

Rio is a beautiful place  -  but a risky one.  With a wife and family it is not where I would like to spend a relaxing vacation.

[Sir Rols]

Fair enough, if you've got a wife and kids to worry about as well, I can understand. Myself, I tend to be more relaxed when travelling in edgier places, while still being mindful if my guidebooks and government advice is to keep a high awareness of personal safety. I'm not always worrying about toothpaste bombers, terrorists or muggers around every corner. Maybe I am too relaxed - almost got kidnapped in Kenya once, only realised after the event/close call. But hasn't affected my desire to want to ever go back there again some day. I've had more harrowing experiences in the US (threatened for money) or Europe (pick-p;accepted, stalked, threatened by Stasi police) because I probably was less on guard.

I was in London for the games too. Never got a pat down, was in and out of security at each venues within second. Found the only intrusive security was at the live zone at Hyde Park and found that more annoying than reassuring.

Again, maybe it is totally different if you've only got yourself to worry about. But if (hopefully when) I ever make it to Rio, I'd be going in with open eyes - it's not as if anyone should be naive about the risks - but not let it affect my experience and from trying as far as possible to go native.

[Sir Rols]

Statement just now from the USOC on Lochte and Co:

Quote

 

As we understand it, the four athletes (Gunnar Bentz, Jack Conger, James Feigen and Ryan Lochte) left France House early in the morning of August 14 in a taxi headed to the Olympic Village. They stopped at a gas station to use the restroom, where one of the athletes committed an act of vandalism.

An argument ensued between the athletes and two armed gas station security staff, who displayed their weapons, ordered the athletes from their vehicle and demanded the athletes provide a monetary payment. Once the security officials received money from the athletes, the athletes were allowed to leave.

The behavior of these athletes is not acceptable, nor does it represent the values of Team USA or the conduct of the vast majority of its members. We will further review the matter, and any potential consequences for the athletes, when we return to the United States.

On behalf of the United States Olympic Committee, we apologize to our hosts in Rio and the people of Brazil for this distracting ordeal in the midst of what should rightly be a celebration of excellence.

 

 

[thorbr]

10 hours ago, Sir Rols said:

Statement just now from the USOC on Lochte and Co:

 

Congrats to the USOC. Great statement. 

It's sad that many here preffered to even imply that the swimmers should be "rescued" as if they were angels being kept held by savages.

[FYI]

So another interview with Matt Lauer & Ryan Lochte just got shown on NBC about 20min ago. And he pretty much confessed that it was all a lie (or in his words, an "over-exaggeration", which he said multiple times).

And "apologized" (while trying to let out some crocodile tears & sniffles) for letting his teammates, the USOC & swimming federation down. And also apologizing to the people of Rio & Brazil, & all the other athletes still competing at the Games that this whole ordeal took away from their time in the spotlight to cover this farce of a scandal. 

So much for "cherry picking" the arguments against Lochte. He's nothing but a dumb a$s drunken frat boy, & the only thing that he's "sorry" about is that he got caught in a big ole LIE.

[FAAN]

IOC: Games were 'iconic' and Rio could host the Games again

'We passed through tense situations, but the balance is very positive" said in an interview the president of the institution, the German Thomas Bach

The president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Thomas Bach said that the IOC would choose again Rio as host of the mega sports event since the city made an "unforgettable and iconic" edition of the Olympic Games. "Yes, we would choose Rio now. These Games were iconic and unforgettable. The Games were not organized inside a bubble, but in a city where there are social gaps and the common life took its course. That's very good" he said.

[...]

Complete article: http://veja.abril.com.br/esporte/coi-diz-que-jogos-foram-iconicos-e-rio-voltaria-a-ser-sede/

[LatinXTC]

30 minutes ago, FAAN said:

IOC: Games were 'iconic' and Rio could host the Games again

'We passed through tense situations, but the balance is very positive" said in an interview the president of the institution, the German Thomas Bach

The president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Thomas Bach said that the IOC would choose again Rio as host of the mega sports event since the city made an "unforgettable and iconic" edition of the Olympic Games. "Yes, we would choose Rio now. These Games were iconic and unforgettable. The Games were not organized inside a bubble, but in a city where there are social gaps and the common life took its course. That's very good" he said.

[...]

Complete article: http://veja.abril.com.br/esporte/coi-diz-que-jogos-foram-iconicos-e-rio-voltaria-a-ser-sede/

"Thomas Bach said that the IOC would choose again Rio "

lol no they wouldn't! Not after giving the IOC the constant fear on a day to day basis that a lot of the venues won't be complete in time, the budget having to be slashed, the what seemed like the near cancellation of the Paralympic Games, and other hiccups here and there. But the games were certainly far from catastrophic and under the conditions of the country Rio certainly did the best they could.

On the bright side, if another tsunami or an earthquake hits Japan and greatly affects the venues in Tokyo, then Rio would serve as a great backup since everything will still be in place to host an emergency games. Rio must continue to improve their transportation though and continue to clean their waters. And of course get their economy and government issues together.

[Rob2012]

Diplomatic nicety. His claim won't be tested anytime soon, certainly not under his Presidency anyway. As much as I dislike how Bach has handled himself on a number of things and how he comes across, I've no problem with him saying this.

[Bezzi]

Be true or not, I don't think Rio will be the next south american city to bid, not even in Brazil. São Paulo may want to bid again, now without a internal dispute with Rio. And Buenos Aires is already planning a bid. They were even worried about our organization to not disrupt a future bid. Rio will continue to host events like world championships, now with an improved infrastructure and experience.

[hektor]

Let's first see how the YOG will be in 2018. 

[FYI]

11 hours ago, LatinXTC said:

On the bright side, if another tsunami or an earthquake hits Japan and greatly affects the venues in Tokyo, then Rio would serve as a great backup since everything will still be in place to host an emergency games.

Oh geez - just listen to yourself! 

Ya know, Rio could also serve as emergency back up that could also work out for whenever Los Angeles gets its next edition, if it were to get hit by the "big one"! 

[gamesnz]

Wanna know one of the reasons for empty seats during the Olympics? 

http://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/olympics/83406596/Rio-Olympics-2016-Three-more-Irish-officials-investigated-in-ticket-scalping-probe

Rio Olympics 2016: Three more Irish officials investigated in ticket-scalping probe

[Bezzi]

This is not the fisrt time that USOC have to make a statement apologizing for some bad behavior in Brazil.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/10/sports/othersports/10panam.html?_r=0

[LatinXTC]

lol it never fails to make me giggle during all the medal ceremonies there's at least one athlete that gives the Rio logo figurine a "WTF is this?" look every time! Just now during the medal ceremony for men's basketball, the official dropped the first one he handed to the first US athlete, and there wasn't one to give to the last one. And the figurines look tiny in the hands of NBA players.

[Bezzi]

Me too. And you can buy this thing for 20 Euro in any official shop lol

[gamesnz]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3752157/Rio-s-parade-rained-one-time-Olympics-closing-ceremony-hit-torrential-rainstorm-Brazil-brings-curtain-half-stadium.html

A torrential rainstorm hit Rio and kept many people from being able to get to the stadium. However, the Brazilians still managed to throw a nice party!

[FYI]

IDK what they're talking about. There were some empty seats, but the stadium looked mostly packed to me. Maybe those seats were from those tickets that were stolen by those Irish officials lol!

[gamesnz]

10 minutes ago, FYI said:

IDK what they're talking about. There were some empty seats, but the stadium looked mostly packed to me. Maybe those seats were from those tickets that were stolen by those Irish officials lol!

[Sir Rols]

25 minutes ago, FYI said:

IDK what they're talking about. There were some empty seats, but the stadium looked mostly packed to me. Maybe those seats were from those tickets that were stolen by those Irish officials lol!

I really didn't notice it much either. Not that i was looking for them. I was either watching what was happening on the field or cursing spellcheck/autocorrect on my iPad while trying to post on GamesBids.

Edited August 22, 2016 by Sir Rols

[gamesnz]

 

[Sir Rols]

By the way - what happened to Pele and what's the news on him? There was a big expectation he'd be there in the CC in some way.

 

And also, I don't think it was noticed or mentioned here, but Havelange died during the games.

 

Quote

 

Former FIFA president Joao Havelange dies, aged 100

Joao Havelange, head of soccer's ruling body FIFA from 1974 to 1998 and a former member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), has died in a Rio de Janeiro hospital at the age of 100.

"During his 24 years as president ... football became truly global, reaching new territories and bringing the game to all corners of the world," current FIFA head Gianni Infantino said in a statement.

"Something the whole football community should be grateful for. I extend my condolences to his family."

Havelange died during the Olympic Games being staged in his home city of Rio de Janeiro.

He oversaw a transformation of FIFA and its flagship World Cup competition into a multi-million-dollar enterprise.

However, his reign was marred by allegations of corruption and he resigned as honorary president three years ago after a FIFA Ethics Committee report said he had taken bribes from the now-defunct sports marketing company, International Sports and Leisure (ISL), over an eight-year period.

Havelange, a former Olympic swimmer and water polo player for Brazil, has been in and out of hospital in recent months with respiratory problems.

Sepp Blatter, who served as Havelange's secretary-general for 17 years before taking over from the Brazilian as president, said "football owes him a huge debt of gratitude".

"His ambition was to make football a global game, calling it the universal language. He succeeded," said Blatter, whose career also ended in disgrace last year when he was banned for six years for ethics violations.

"I had the personal honour of following him on his quest, helping to develop FIFA into the organisation it is today.

Born to Belgian immigrants, Havelange represented Brazil in the 400 and 1,500 metres freestyle swimming events at the 1936 Games and played for his country's water polo team 16 years later.

He became the first non-European president of FIFA when he defeated Englishman Stanley Rous in an election in 1974.

Before that, Havelange was president of the Brazilian Football Confederation for 15 years, during which time his country won the World Cup three times.

He was a member of the IOC from 1963 until he quit in 2011 due to ill-health.

Havelange's resignation came just days before an IOC ethics hearing over his links with ISL.

Rio Games spokesman Mario Andrada said: "Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and Brazilian flags will be kept at half-mast."

The Estadio Joao Havelange venue in Rio, where many Olympic events are being staged, was named in his honour.

ABC