Rio Grrrls: What the Olympics Mean to Us
by School of Doodle
“Winter is coming,” they said. In the real world scenario, the Olympic Games — Rio Edition — are coming.
But shush, I have a secret. As a Brazilian girl, I have something utterly important to tell you: Rio is not ready to receive an event like the Olympic Games. Brazil in general isn’t. Why? Both the Country and the Rio de Janeiro State are drowning deep in one of the biggest crises we’ve ever seen. It’s a long story, but you can find articles talking about it all over the internet. Traditional news vehicles, as The New York Times and The Guardian, have published articles about this matter.
We, Brazilian people, know this is not something to be proud of; nobody around the globe would be proud of stuff like that. But we can’t let this make us angry towards the athletes, especially not Team Brazil.
Being an athlete in Brazil is so damn hard. Some of those women and men don’t even have financial support, having to work some other job to, at least, pay their bills. If you’re well known by the mainstream media or have a “family name” (something like being a Lannister, ’cause hey, we have a name and people know us!), it’s easier. However, I can assure you 70% of our athletes don’t have this…gift. We don’t have support from Universities, like powerful countries, as the USA, nor incentive from the Federal Government, like Russia. See, it’s so hard to be an athlete around here.
Anyways, what I’m trying to say is: even if Brazil is not our dream country at this moment, we can’t let this affect our Olympic spirit. Cheer for our athletes an act of respect. Cheer not only for them, but for the people involved in the whole process — the volunteers, the staff team, the women and men that used their hands to build the Olympic Village.
Don’t let the anger be the main thought about Rio 2016. Brazil is like any other country; it has problems, but it has a lot to offer, as in the culture and the people. We are so welcoming. We’re happy, despite our situation. For sure, I’m not happy about the crisis, but I refuse to let the anger grow inside me and forget about the Games and the hard work behind all of it.
Let’s celebrate — together — the Olympic Games.
— Victoria Oliveira
So, it’s finally here: the 2016 Rio Olympics! Being just a few days from it feels somehow pretty odd and exciting at the same time. Every Olympic year I ask myself, “When the next one happens, in four years, how will I be?” Well, I’m not only older — duh — but now finally feeling like a person who is starting to figure the world out. During the time that things were getting built and set for the games, a lot has happened. I and, especially, my country have gone through quite a few situations (Google it, I dare you to understand it all in one sit), all of which turned out to change us in one way or another. That is the exact thing I feel the Olympics does to an athlete; it’s life changing. But it’s also about these four years, the space in between, the time you spend preparing, the things you learn.
Do I think Brazil is ready to host something this important? No, we are a third world country, with way bigger problems to take care of. Yet, that doesn’t mean we can’t try to make and take the best of it, and man, we are good at trying! I know that the Brazilian people are going to make the best of it for the athletes and their countries. These visitors will for sure have a great time and unforgettable memories to take home. But I hope that we, Brazilians, take the best of the experience, too. I want the Olympic spirit to take us over, to show us that dedication, hard work and teamwork can build beautiful things. We need that. So that in the next four years, after answering my question, I’ll be again crying tears of joy for every athlete that gets a medal and for being proud of the legacy left by us.
— Gabriela Moser
The Brazil opening ceremony made my heart cry. A celebration of colours, ecology, history and culture. Brazil, I love you, even when you bring me down. Sending a message of saving the planet made me so proud. That ceremony really represented Brazil, a colorful mess where the contemporary meets rustic. The favelas culture was shown, the black culture was there. In the middle of a crisis — both political and economic — our hope was given back. Brazilians remembered what they are and how they can. I’m so proud with my country. I hope that through time that hope stays.
— Maria Luiza
