The Great Success Of The Riolympics
"It's too soon, obviously, to determine the legacy of these Olympic Games."
-NBC Commentator during the Closing Ceremony
Challenge accepted.
Actually, in full disclosure, I wanted to publish this the night of the Closing Ceremonies (before life got in the way), so I'm responding to that assertion three days out as opposed to immediately following. Bear with me.
I know I don't have too many years under my belt, but I can't remember any host city or country of a major sporting event facing as much scrutiny and pre-emptive criticism as Rio de Janeiro did for the 2016 Olympics. Sure, many wondered whether Athens would be fully prepared in 2004. Before hosting the World Cup in 2010, South Africa faced many of the familiar questions and refrains, and unsurprisingly, that was also true of Brazil as a whole when the nation hosted the World Cup just two short years ago. But leading up to the 2016 Olympics there was outright disdain at the idea of Rio hosting the World on a stage as grand as the Olympics' stage.
American media focused on the 'troublesome' setting, with social and political unrest apparently prevalent over the city. Public figures pointed out (and occasionally made light of) the spread of the Zika virus. Top Athletes withdrew from the games due to the aforementioned concerns and to the heavily-circulating rumors that the competition venues would not be completed on time. All this on top of the fact that Rio already had a reputation as a crime-ridden city.
Not exactly the way the IOC and, especially Brazil would have hoped to welcome the World to the first-ever South American Olympics. But, right off the bat, the hosts showed that all the swirling controversy wouldn't rain on their Carnaval, with a fascinating, up-tempo and economically conscious (that's new!) Opening Ceremony in Rio's famed Maracanã Stadium.
The event was met with mixed reviews: many were left unimpressed by the sequel to the expensive and explosive bonanzas of the Beijing and London Opening Ceremonies. Others thought that, for a considerably less pricey production, the organizers pulled together a beautiful, culturally-informing and appropriately fun ceremony. (Can you tell which camp I fall into?)
But enough about show: on to the sports themselves. Here is where there can be little complaint as to quality. The World was witness to some of the most incredible athletic performances ever. Katie Ledecky's astonishing victories in the pool. Wayde van Niekerk (who was predicted to finish 3rd!) breaking a 17-year old World Record in the 400m. Simone Biles staking her claim as the greatest gymnast ever by taking the Team Gold, All-Around Gold, Vault Gold, and Floor Routine Gold. The Hungarian Iron Lady's sensational swimming success (and her shouting husband). Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt, quite possibly the two greatest Olympians of all time, closing their careers on top. Last-second victories in Swimming, Track and Field, Basketball... the list goes on.
Sure, credit for the athletic prowess can not be attributed to Rio as a host city. But the negative press regarding its ability to host had led to a seemingly sharp decrease of interest, a concern over the lessening of quality at these Games. Those worries could not have been further from the truth. Rio de Janeiro's venues proved able, and the athletes proved willing.
It was perhaps fitting that one of the last medal ceremonies involved a gold medal for Brazil, in the sport they most desperately wanted to win: Men's Soccer. Shockingly, the international soccer dynasty had never managed to win the Olympic Gold, and that changed this year with Brazil beating Germany in the most nervewracking of finishes: penalties. Watch the following two videos and tell me you don't get goosebumps.
I've never been a Brazil soccer fan, but I mean, come ON. Who wasn't cheering for them in that moment? The star player and captain delivering a first-ever Gold Medal for the host nation in the Olympic Stadium? That's the stuff of Hollywood scripts.
As a city, Rio de Janeiro was capable and competent. It was not incident-free, but would Madrid have been? Would CHICAGO have been? Yeah, I didn't think so. One positive thing that came out of the Ryan Lochte debacle was that it exposed the dangers of living in privilege: how quick we were to assume that the thugs and criminals of Rio beat up and robbed our poor swimmers. How quick we were to look for news storied that confirmed our preconceived biases.
How unfair we were, to assume that a city in a developing country was incapable of hosting an event of such magnitude. The people of Rio are still hurting, I'm sure, in ways many of us will never understand and in way that sports will never heal. But for two weeks in August they demonstrated to a worldwide audience how to welcome guests, entertain millions and unite as one behind their nation's brightest stars.