Rio 2016
Now that Rio de Janeiro has been chosen to host the 2016 Olympic Games (not to mention co-hosting the FIFA World Cup in 2014), it is only natural that it should be in the limelight for the next few years. Unfortunately so far it has only generated bad publicity: a police helicopter was shot down by drug traffickers a few weeks ago, and today a big blackout plunged the city into darkness. Although this is the first time I hear of a helicopter being shot down, I cannot say the same for the violence that seems to be slowly choking the city half to death. As for power failures, they do seem to occur rather frequently.
All this makes me wonder if the Rio authorities will manage to get their act together in time for the big events of 2014 and 2016. If ever there was a reason or an excuse for them to take concrete action against crime, especially the drug gangs which thrive in Rio's many favelas, clean up the city and improve its infrastructure, this is it.
Of course, I'm assuming here that the world will not come to an end in 2012 ...
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