The country is undergoing its worst recession since 1930, with overall output down by 30%. A lot of people are being pressured out of their homes in order to accommodate the desperation for the country to cash in on the huge and internationally celebrated event that happens once every four years. Overall confidence in the government is down is down ,and many are dreading the potential financial pressure that will accompany the games in one of the most beautiful countries in the world where talent exists in great measure.
The mosquito induced Zika virus is also creating plenty of problems and concerns for these game. Over a million people were infected with the virus in Brazil in 2015 alone. The Zika virus is spread mostly through the bite of an infected mosquito, with symptoms none existent and any associated illness insignificant enough to raise alarm.
The effects of contracting such a virus would easily hamper the performance of athletes, given them flu-like symptoms. The virus is also said to cause birth defects, prompting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has warned pregnant women to either stay away or take precautions if traveling to Rio.
As part of a measure to ward off the virus, Rio workers are spraying insecticides to poison and kill mosquitoes that transmit Zika, though it remains questionable whether they can actually kill off all of such mosquitoes in time for the games. Athletes will be warned to prepare adequately for the virus in order not to run the risk of contracting the virus.
In the meantime, Brazil’s economy is undergoing serious turmoil with rising unemployment and soaring inflation blighting the prospects of many citizens. Poverty is on the rise, and there are growing concerns that the Olympic games will worsen matters for those under the lower income bracket.
The Brazilian economy was relatively strong in 2009 when beach front Rio de Janeiro won its bid to host the 2016 Summer Olympics. A boost in foreign investment and pool of rewarding infrastructure projects looked promising for the labor market at the time. Strong prices for commodity exports, such as iron ore and soybeans, allowed Brazil to withstand the worst of the 2008 global financial crisis. And social programs targeting impoverished Brazilians helped narrow the gaping canyon between rich and poor.
With just 100 days to go until the Olympics’ opening ceremony in August, Brazil’s recession is showing no signs of improvement. Commodity prices and business investment is at an all time low.
Economists say the Brazilian government has only made life harder for poor and middle-class citizens during the crisis by adopting austerity measures and raising taxes. Meanwhile, Brazil’s Congress has been hit with embarrassing corruption scandals, and efforts to impeach their president makes the country look in trouble. The
2016 Olympics will surely give the country an economic boost, but will this be enough to address the hefty needs of the people? Brazilian, Leonardo Bitencourt, told the eye of media.com ”there are a lot of problems in Brazil at the moment. People are struggling, it’s not really the best year for Olympics from the point of view of the everyday man. There are hardly any jobs, and there is the threat of us having to lose our homes because of these games. It is a shame, but not many of us are looking forward to the games”.
