Rio Olympics: A lot at stake for Brazilians

Rio de Janerio: One thing that hits any experienced journalist, sportsperson or official on arrival at Galeão International Airport in Rio de Janeiro, is total lack of exuberance, excitement and sense of anticipation for the Olympic Games. There are still a few people painting the walls of the airport, while some portion of the area is covered as work has been halted there. From the airport to the Main Press Centre (MPC) there are virtually no hoardings, banners and buntings about the Games. The banners and hoardings are visible near the Games village and the MPC. The buses carrying journalists and officials to the MPC and the Games village are not painted or decorated. Only the buses designated to carry the athletes and their officials make one aware of the fact that city is hosting the planet’s biggest quadrangular sporting extravaganza. “Why to waste money on banners and buntings or even decorating the buses when everybody knows  that Rio is the venue of the Olympics,” said Robson Silva, a volunteer. “You have come from the other part of the Globe because you know that Olympics are to be held here. Like you, hundreds of other journalists from all over the world have come.” He is unhappy with the way world media, especially the American and the European press, is pointing out the ‘fault lines”. “If only these Games had been allotted to Chicago, everything would have been excellent,” he said. Robson, like several other young educated volunteers, is no ultra nationalist but he says he is upset with the way “Brazilians are being projected in the USA and Europe.” “Any demonstration in USA and Europe is sign of healthy democracy but any protest in Rio  is projected as anarchy. “There were more foreign journalists covering the small demonstration rather than writing about the sportspersons and their preparations,” he added. The Games Village wears an austere look and one athlete from Africa whom I talked to seemed satisfied with it but said, “they (organizers) are cutting it too thin.” This reminded me of my conversion with a Nigerian official during the 2012 London Olympics where I had gone as a press attaché of the Indian contingent. While talking about the village facilities in London, the official recalled his stay at the Commonwealth Games Village in Delhi in 2010. “Oh man, that was something so lavish. It was like a five star hotel. We had everything in our room. I could even order food from my room. Here in London, we don’t have TV or intercom in our rooms. We can’t order food from our rooms.” Here in Rio, there are no ACs in rooms and teams can order them on payment. Though most of the people I talked are not against the Games, they are not showing any eagerness or excitement. Football is a Brazilian passion but after their team’s poor showing in 2016 World Cup and then in Copa America, most of them dread that Argentina may win here too. This one thought is making them uncomfortable. “If we finish among first five nations in the medal tally, then it is possible that people’s anger may subsides to some extent because then we will have something to cheer about in these days of economic difficulties,” said Silveira, a student who is working as a volunteer. “But given our standard, I don’t think we will be even among first ten countries. Then, people who are keeping quiet, may start questioning the rationale behind hosting these Games. “People are still reeling under the humiliation which Brazil suffered in World Cup football. Our cup of woes was filled when we even failed in Copa America and any poor showing in the games will be hard to digest,” Silveria cautioned. The  media persons are arriving in hordes but it is the Chinese who look omnipresent in the MPC and IBC. “We have a strong contingent and back home people watch Olympics very keenly and with lot of enthusiasm,” said a Chinese journalist. The Koreans are also hopeful of  winning good number of medals. “We are strong contenders in archery, shooting, wrestling – these are the events where India is also hoping for podium finishes. Our shooter Jin Jong Oh has won Gold in Beijing and London and we are expecting a hat-trick from him,” said Kiyeon Kim, a reporter from daily the Joon Ang. There is a total lack of information about the Indians in the local media. The Guardian has come out with a list of 100 sportspersons to be watched during the Games but not one Indian is included in that list. The interesting information from the Indian camp was that hockey coach Roelant Oltman had requested  for a TV set and contingent’s Chef de Mission, Rakesh Gupta, has given the TV set in his apartment to the hockey team. He said, “The hockey coach, Roelant Oltmans wanted some TV sets and chairs and tables. I gave my TV set and table and chair to them so that the players could be comfortable. Meanwhile, we have made a request to the organisers to give the hockey team some more furniture and TV sets, but they seem to have run out of them.” “We are trying to work on it,” he added. Also Sania Mirza was the first tennis player to arrive at the Games Village. She came from Montreal, where she was playing the Rogers Cup. “It’s been a long flight, but one is always excited about Olympics and playing for India,” said Sania. “I am sure all the pairs are fighting fit. The Bryan brothers have pulled out, but I am sure the Americans have enough players to put up a strong team.” The table tennis quartet of Sharath Kamal Achanta, Soumyajit Ghosh, Mouma Das and Manika Batra, have also arrived. Former Commonwealth Games gold medallist, Sharath is playing his third Olympics, while Soumyajit is playing in his second. Mouma Das played at the 2004 Games in Athens, where Sharath made his maiden appearance. Manika Batra is making her debut. “The Olympics is the biggest stage and I want to do well this time because I have been here twice before and I missed out in London. Who knows if I will be back for next Olympics or not. So I am keen on a strong showing,” Sharth was quoted as saying.