Rio 2016: Olympic Myths, Hard Realities

(Paperback)

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A clear-eyed, critical examination of the social, political, and economic costs of hosting the 2016 summer Olympics

The selection of Rio de Janeiro as the site of the summer 2016 Olympic Games set off jubilant celebrations in Braziland created enormous expectations for economic development and the advancement of Brazil as a major player on the world stage. Although the games were held without major incident, the economic, environmental, political, and social outcomes for Brazil ranged from disappointing to devastating. Corruption scandals trimmed the fat profits that many local real estate developers had envisioned, and the local government was driven into bankruptcy. At the other end of the economic spectrum, some 77,000 residents of Rio's poorest neighborhoodsthe favelaswere evicted and forced to move, in many cases as far as 20 or 30 miles to the west. Hosting the games ultimately cost Brazil $20 billion, with little positive to show for the investment.

Rio 2016 assembles the views of leading experts on Brazil and the Olympics into a clear-eyed assessment of the impact of the games on Brazil in general and on the lives of Cariocas, as Rio's residents are known. Edited by sports economist Andrew Zimbalist, the other contributors include Juliana Barbassa, Jules Boykoff, Jamil Chade, Stephen Essex, Renata Latuf, and Theresa Williamson.

Reviews

Providing clear, detailed analysis of the impact of hosting the Olympic Games, this collection offers a critical intervention as to the political, social, economic and cultural impact of not only the 2016 Games but the entire Olympic Movement.Adam Talbot, Sociology of Sport

Andrew Zimbalists edited collection titled Rio 2016: Olympic Myths, Hard Realities is a masterful review of Rio de Janeiros Olympic Games and their impact across the city.Rio on Watch

A thoughtful, objective exploration of the economic, social, and political sacrifices and expenses that come with being an Olympic city. Recommended. All readers.CHOICE

Author Bio

Andrew Zimbalist is the Robert A. Woods Professor of Economics at Smith College and a noted sports economist and sports industry consultant. He has published 26 books, most recently Circus Maximus: The Economic Gamble Behind Hosting the Olympics and the World Cup and Unwinding Madness: What Went Wrong with College Sports and How to Fix It (with Gerald Gurney and Donna Lopiano.)