Rio's beauty offset by city woes

Residents of Rio de Janeiro, famous for its sandy beaches, emerald-green hills and breathtaking vistas, are used to compliments about the beauty of The Marvellous City, as Rio is known in Brazil.

Yet, when the International Olympic Committee last week kept Rio off the short list of contenders to host the 2012 Olympic games, even many of Rio's staunchest backers were little surprised, acknowledging that the city's many problems have long offset its good looks.

Local authorities said they were shocked by the defeat, which they called political. Rio was bidding to become the first South American host of the games.

Istanbul and Havana also failed to make the short list of Paris, Madrid, London, New York, Moscow and Leipzig. Rio also bid and failed to make the short list for the 2004 games.

But online surveys in local media showed residents placing the blame firmly at home, on authorities who do too little to combat crime and the poverty that breeds violence.

"Beauty is not enough," was a typical reply, in a reference to Mayor Cesar Maia's remark "beauty is fundamental" made when Rio became Brazil's candidate for the Games.

"Really, the public security situation in Rio is worsening and escaping from the control of the government. I think the decision to drop Rio was justified at least from this point of view," said Julita Lengruber, head of securities studies at the Candido Mendes University in Rio.

Some say the city is too ambitious even in hosting the 2007 Pan-American Games, for which the city is readying now.

But crime itself is only partly to blame. Rio draws hordes of tourists for such events as dazzling Carnival parades despite being one of the world's most dangerous cities.

Transportation was a major concern. "I was actually quite relieved that there would be no Games here as they would simply paralyse the city, as always happens here during big events," said Fernanda de Souza, 36, who travels to work by car every day for about an hour.

A big chunk of the city is sandwiched between the ocean and the mountains, leaving few alternatives for motorists trying to get from one area to another.

Hundreds of thousands of people cram sprawling slums on Rio's outskirts and face daily bus trips to work in the city's wealthier areas. Major thoroughfares, to say nothing of smaller streets, get clogged with licensed city buses and hundreds of illegal vans and buses.

The authorities' plan was to focus Olympic venues in the southern upscale Barra da Tijuca district, which they said should prevent traffic problems.

But many in Rio still remember a 1998 concert by Irish band U2 in that part of the city, which brought not only Barra but even remote districts to a halt. Big soccer matches on the famous Maracana stadium also provoke huge traffic-jams.

The subway system is modern, but there are only two lines with just a few stations and none in Barra so far.

The IOC also gave low marks to Rio's environmental record. Indeed, while Guanabara Bay offers picture-postcard views in the touristy areas, the same bay on the outskirts emits a foul smell and its oily, greasy water looks black from pollution.

"Rio should have resolved violence problems and pollution in the Guanabara Bay before making the bid. It will be a lesson for the future," said Joao Jordao of Brazil's Olympic sailing team.