2016 Rio De Janeiro Olympics - Was it a Good Choice?

The 2016 Summer Olympics have been awarded to Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, over Chicago in the United States, Tokyo in Japan, and Madrid in Spain. Many viewed Rio as the favorite to become the host of the 2016 Olympic Games, since the Olympics have never been held in South America; Rio is also a cosmopolitan city host to many cultural events such as the Brazilian Carnival, or "Carnaval", a yearly celebration of culture where people wear costumes and have a massive block party. It also helps that Brazil is emerging as a world power, economically and politically, which certainly helped Rio's cause in the race to be the host city of the 2016 Summer Olympics. But was Rio De Janeiro a good choice? There are reasons why it was, and a few good reasons why it probably will be risky. But all in all, since South America has never played host to the Olympics, it probably was time for them to join the party.

With an ethnically diverse population of over 6 million inhabitants, Rio de Janeiro is Brazil's second largest city, only to Sao Paulo. Despite it being the second largest city, Rio is actually considered to be Brazil's cultural capital, since it is home to a multitude of museums such as the Quinta da Boa Vista, and libraries, and its buildings are heavily influenced by Portuguese, English, and French architecture. Rio is also home to the Brazilian Carnival, or "Carnaval", an annual showcase of costumes and Brazilian music and dance that draws millions of visitors worldwide. In addition, the city is rich in athletic tradition, home to numerous football (soccer) teams, including Flamengo, one of the best-supported football (soccer) clubs in the world, according to FIFA. Brazil as a whole also boasts an impressive list of popular figures, including esteemed author Paulo Coelho, Pele, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, and Ronaldinho.

Detractors point out that Rio de Janeiro's serious problems with crime, drugs, and poverty are reasons why the Olympics could be a risky proposition. It is known as one the most dangerous cities in South America and the world, with a poor police force and drug lords that are known to rule the poor areas. Since the event draws spectators from all over the world, a strong police force would obviously be needed to prevent crimes that could become a problem. Of course, Rio has 7 years to rectify these problems, but relatively speaking, that's not a very large amount of time. Chicago, Tokyo, and Madrid, the three other cities bidding for the 2016 Olympic Games, are located in better-developed countries with much better infrastructure, which is why many are surprised Rio de Janeiro was awarded the games.

In conclusion, it is safe to say that despite its downfalls, the time has come for South America to host an Olympic Games. As one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world, located in a country that is on its way to becoming an international power, Rio de Janeiro is certainly deserving of hosting the 2016 Olympic Games. However, there are quite a few people who are upset over the selection. If you feel the need to vent about it, check out the "Sports" section over at Ventnation.com - a new website that allows individuals to share their innermost, truest feelings about a variety of topics. No matter what your feelings are about Rio being awarded in 2016 Olympic Games, the truth is that it will be the chance for Brazil to showcase its progress to the world.