Dear Editor,
With reference to my letter dated June 8, 2016 about the Olympic Games Rio-2016 (‘The Olympic Games will not be cancelled or postponed’), I write one more time to this prestigious newspaper to lament that the Stabroek News, even after the resounding success of the Olympics in the city of Rio de Janeiro, continues to rely on international news agencies that highlight negative aspects of the event, instead of celebrating the achievements of the first Olympics held in South America. We are neighbours and coverage in loco could bring your readers a Guyanese view of what the Rio-2016 Games were.
For all those who really know Brazil, the successful delivery of the 2016 Olympics comes as no surprise. In my previous letter, two months before the opening ceremony, I wrote that Rio-2016 “will be remembered for the exciting competitions, for the world records that will be broken, for the emergence of new sports’ idols, for the joy of the Brazilian people, and also for the organization”. And I was right. Right, because we, Brazilians, love a challenge and we can deliver.
From the spectacular opening ceremony to the moment the flame was extinguished via piped rain, Brazil gave the world an example of competence, organization and a lesson to those who doubted our capacity. Athletes did their part breaking 19 world records and 65 Olympic records, and showing that sport breaks down barriers, not just records.
The Games were not cancelled, there wasn’t any case of Zika, all stadiums welcomed comfortably thousands of athletes and visitors, there was no chaos in transportation, sea competitions were carried out without any problems, especially those related to the quality of the water, and the political situation didn’t affect the event at all. As Brazilians, we like to say, that “Brazil is the graveyard of the pessimists”. We trust our ability and we know how to organize big important events as well a good party. I know that the work of the press is to ascertain, denounce and criticize, and this cannot be different. But the press should also recognize a well accomplished mission as was Rio-2016.
I believe Brazil has shown, once more, it is an exceptional country – a developing country that never ceases to amaze. And the party is not over yet. The Paralympic Games begin next September 7th and, again, we will have new records and a great event in this wonderful setting that is the city of Rio de Janeiro.
Yours faithfully,
Lineu De Paula
Ambassador of Brazil
