巴西里约热内卢准备迎接成千上万前来参加奥林匹克运动会这一世界上最大体育盛事的游客们。这座巴西现代城市会给我们带来怎样的惊喜？巴西是否从举办2014年世界杯比赛过程中吸取了经验教训以便更成功地举办2016年奥运会？

 

Brazilians certainly know how to throw a party – but will Rio be ready to welcome over 10,000 athletes and all the international visitors to the 2016 Olympics? At the moment, some natives of Rio (known locally as 'Cariocas') aren't too enthusiastic about the Games. They know they'll be putting up with a lot more roadworks and infrastructure¹ building before the Olympic torch is lit in the Maracanã Stadium next August.

 

Delays in venue² construction gave the International Olympic Committee a fright in 2014. The government has since cleaned up its act and was praised recently for being ''on the right track'', although the challenge of cleaning up the highly polluted waters of the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon³ and Guanabara Bay – venues⁴ for the sailing and rowing competitions – remains⁵.

 

Fortunately, Brazil has learnt a lot from hosting the World Cup in 2014. Some businesses realised they were missing a trick by not communicating well with their international customers. Restaurants now know that using the internet to translate the menu isn't always a good idea: 'bife a cavalo' isn't really 'horse steak' – it's beef with a fried egg on top!

 

Security was a key challenge in 2014 – and during the Olympics, the police will be working hard to prevent street crime. As with other developing countries, crime rates are high, and visitors will be encouraged to keep their wits about them so as to avoid falling victim to pickpockets⁶ or muggers.

 

So while the Cariocas are already becoming athletes – by jumping and running across construction sites on their daily commute⁷ – they know that the Games have the potential to be a great spectacle, they will be able to let their hair down, and international visitors will have a good time in their company.

 

Even those Brazilians who have their reservations, know deep down something that others don't. An old local saying goes: 'Deus é Brasileiro' ('God is Brazilian'). They hope he will give them a hand to make the games a success. And you can be sure that whatever happens – or doesn't happen – Brazilians will show the world why they have such a reputation as party people!

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