Rio's Governor Declares 'State Of Calamity' Ahead Of Olympic Games

[Purveyor]

Source: NPR

Just seven weeks before the opening ceremony of the Olympics, the governor of Rio de Janeiro has declared a "state of calamity." Interim Governor Francisco Dornelles says the state's government is bankrupt and can't meet its financial commitments ahead of the games.

The financial emergency is just the latest crisis to hit Brazil. The country's president is facing impeachment proceedings and the country is in the middle of an economic recession. A security crisis and the Zika virus have also rattled Brazil, as Lulu Garcia-Navarro has reported.
A man performs yoga in the Babilonia favela overlooking Rio de Janeiro in 2014. The Brazilian government made a big push to impose order on the shantytowns in advance of the World Cup in 2014 and the Olympics this summer. Babilonia was once considered a model, but violence has been on the rise in the run-up to the games.

Lulu tells our Newscast unit that finances in Rio "have been so dire ... that civil servants haven't been paid and hospitals are operating on a shoe string." She adds that even amid a countrywide recession, "the state that is hosting the Olympics has been particularly hard hit." Here's more from Lulu:

"Most of its revenue comes from oil and gas, and the state oil company has been at the center of a corruption scandal. The federal government is expected to bail Rio out with just enough money to see it through the Olympics – but what happens after the athletes go home is still unclear."[/div class="excerpt"]

In a decree, Dornelles said the state requires emergency measures to prevent "a total collapse in public security, health, education, transport and environmental management," Reuters reported.

Read more: http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/06/18/482593048/rios-governor-declares-state-of-calamity-ahead-of-olympic-games

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[jalan48]

1. Looks like a major hiccup in the circus part of the Bread and Circuses routine.

[MisterP]

20. neither bread nor circuses--that's how you could tell things were looking dark for Rome

will Temer even have lions to throw people to?

[Bayard]

2. I suspect

I suspect other countries are going to be asked to step in and bail them out just to have the Games. I know you have to bid years in advance, but why would they have done that if they couldn't afford it? Are they in that much worse shape now?

[bluestateguy]

3. Chicago stands ready

T'sall.

[SwankyXomb]

13. London and Los Angeles

could also put on an Olympics at short notice.

[Shemp Howard]

4. In the future, move the games to Greece...

...and keep them there. The games started in Greece, after all. No more bidding, with all that bidding corruption. Just build permanent facilities in Greece, and be done with it.

[yallerdawg]

8. Greece had the Olympics in 2004.

I remember the same kind of economic forebodings, and same stories of not being ready on time.

Now look at Greece.

[nadine_mn]

10. maybe not necessarily Greece, but I like your idea of one permanent place

Then the buildings are guaranteed some use instead of left to crumble and decay. Even if it's one place for winter and one for summer...they will have to keep moving north to find a good spot for winter.

It is just such an economic disaster for everyone except Olympic Committee officials.

[targetpractice]

16. That seems like a good idea. n/t

[OnlinePoker]

5. What a farce

It's time we get rid of these international dick measuring contests all together.

[liberal N proud]

6. Rio is going to be the worst mistake in modern Olympics

Why cities bid for these games is beyond comprehension. Governments go broke, people are displaced for venues that will most likely fall into decay after the event.

[iandhr]

12. This is why Oslo canceled it's bid for winter games.

And why Boston canceled its bid to be the American bid for 2024.

[forest444]

18. Rio is incredible - like Hawaii on steroids.

But even as a mere tourist, you are very much in God's hands there.

There are the stick-ups of course (which can happen in broad daylight and almost anywhere outdoors); but there's also corrupt police and their "tolls" and a very real risk of food or water poisoning.

Above all, if anyone finds themselves in a Rio clinic - even an upscale one - over such an incident, make sure a loved one is with you at all times.

It's a shame really, because as much as the word "beautiful" gets bandied about when describing tourist destinations, Rio truly is.

[Hoppy]

7. So Lulu wants to know what happens after the games?

Olympic officials will find their bank accounts substantially increased. Rio will have skeletons of useless stadiums to pay for.

[geek tragedy]

9. Great choice for a venue nt

[nadine_mn]

11. I don't understand why the fecal bay is not making more news

I mean honestly - how could any country want to send it's best young athletes to a place where they are guaranteed to get disease. The people in Rio have built up a tolerance, as I understand it, which is why they aren't sicker but good lord I have read articles about the level of contaminants in the water and I just want to jump in the shower.

Not to mention the crime - I can't imagine too many people wanting to travel to Rio for the games and risk Zika, being robbed or worse, or just the general sickness from lack of infrastructure.

[catbyte]

15. No kidding. YUCK.

[catbyte]

14. Wow. It sounds like a clusterfuck of epic proportions in the making.

First Zika, now this. I hope the IOC enjoys their bribes while the games go up in flames. I feel sorry for the athletes.

[Hoppy]

17. Thank god we have more consideration for puplic health. Why only last week, there was a public radio

program about N.Y.C. discharging raw sewage into the water way. But, not to worry. It is being discharged only into the appropriately named, Gowanus Canal.

[mcar]

19. What a mess

The IOC should have moved this a few months ago so the new host city could prepare appropriately.

I'd be happy with a pared down olympics in a major metro area that can handle it.