Brazilian paper accuses the New Yorker of trying to scuttle Olympic bid

Posted By Jordana Timerman Wednesday, September 30, 2009 - 5:01 PM Share

"It's war!" cries Brazilian newspaper O Globo, lamenting an article in the latest New Yorker on gang violence in Rio de Janeiro, which comes out mere days before the International Olympic Committee decides the location of the 2016 summer games.

The article, by journalist Jon Lee Anderson, describes the fighting between gangs in Rio's favelas, which he says are spread everywhere in the city: "there is no way to completely escape Rio's misery."  O Globo, which has a section online dedicated specifically to the city's Olympic bid, notes that Anderson said the timing of the article is a coincidence, and that he believes Rio is fully capable of hosting the games.

The paper couldn't help but notice the "sad coincidence" that this same week, Chicago -- Rio's main competitor -- faced its own shocking gang violence moment, with widespread circulation of a cell-phone video footage showing the fatal beating of 16-year-old Derrion Albert.

As Chicago booster Michelle Obama said herself, "the gloves are off".

ANTONIO SCORZA/AFP/Getty Images

EXPLORE:LATIN AMERICA, DRUGS & CRIME, MEDIA, OLYMPICS
 

HORSEBETTING

10:24 AM ET

October 1, 2009

I dont know

There should be further investigation for this anomaly..

 

HORSEBETTING

10:25 AM ET

October 1, 2009

I dont know

There should be further investigation for this anomaly..

 

TEODORO

11:56 AM ET

October 1, 2009

Chigago citizens for Rio

There are some who don't want the Olympics to come to Chicago:

http://chicagoansforrio.com/

 

ANNAN AMOS

5:50 PM ET

October 13, 2009

It does seem hypocritical, doesn't it?

It does seem a little hypocritical to think that Chicago was denied the Olympics because of an incident of gang violence, when Rio has more problems with it by far. Mountains out of molehills is maybe not the best phrase, but it's the first one that comes to mind. I think it's just slightly possible - just slightly - that the IOC didn't want to appear as if they were laying down, as it were, for the American President, as we are all well and aware that Chicago is the Obama's hometown. (Now that sounds FAR more likely, doesn't it?)
One of the bright sides about the Olympics going to Rio is that it will bring a lot of instant cash to an area that is already a tourist hot spot in the semi-periphery (if we're going by that old industrial core, semi-periphery, periphery model) and hey, the athletes must love it - heck, I'd rather go to Rio than Chicago just about any old day of the week. (I'd rather go to Green Bay to watch a sporting contest, if you follow me.)
On another aside, two sports will get reinstated, perhaps only one deserving of Olympic admission. The deserving, all deference to the game, is NOT Golf. The Game They Play in Heaven (that's the game of Rugby Union; the code of football as it's Supposed to be) deserves Olympic inclusion, and this is a great springboard to get the full 15 man side back in the Greatest Show on Earth.

 

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