Posted on 07/16/2007 11:53:32 AM PDT by JZelle
Brazil is the hot spot this summer for international track and field.
The 2007 Pan American Junior Athletics Championships just finished in Sao Paulo, and the third IBSA (International Blind Sports Federation) World Championships and Games will be there later this month. The 2007 Pan American Games just began in Rio de Janeiro, and will be followed by the 2007 Parapan American Games for Paralympians.
There are some beautiful places in Brazil, but just one look at the U.S. Department of State Web site tells me I would not risk my life for a meet in Sao Paulo or Rio de Janeiro.
"Crime throughout Brazil has reached very high levels," the site reports. "The Brazilian police and the Brazilian press report that the rate of crime continues to rise, especially in the major urban centers — though it is also spreading in rural areas. Brazil's murder rate is several times higher than that of the U.S. Rates for other crimes are similarly high. The majority of crimes are not solved. There were several reported rapes against American citizens in 2006.
"Street crime remains a problem for visitors and local residents alike, especially in the evenings and late at night. Foreign tourists are often targets of crime and Americans are not exempt. This targeting occurs in all tourist areas but is especially problematic in Rio de Janeiro and Salvador."
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
Sounds like an Amazon Safari would be safer than cruising the Rio night spots.
When I read the headline I though the ozone hole had gotten bigger and people were going to be cooked extra-crispy during the games. Had that been the case then it would be on the front page and not where its found now.
As a Chicagoan, I love what this does to help Brazil’s Olympic bid
Ah, just great to be reading this now.
My son and 40 of his closest friends are in Sao Paulo this week for a short term missions project.
That said, it’s his fourth trip and they’ve not had any problems. But they do travel in a pretty large group.
My wife is (on hold for now as she’s expecting our first child in January) a professional runner and she reported to me on a number of acquaintances of hers that made the decision not to go to Brazil to compete. Interesting to me to now read this article.
That won’t influence the IOC. If it’s time for a South Amercian nation to host anyway. Next World Cup in 2010 is in South Africa, which could certainly compete with Brazil in crime statistics.
I'd give much of the credit to multi-culturalism. Brazil is boiling pot. (I do like samba music, though.)
sounds like anyplace in iraq, including baghdad, would be safer than rio
And after watching Brazil destroy Argentina yesterday in the Copa America final, if Brazil doesn't win #6 in South Africa, I will be shocked.
My company had a contract in Brazil, like ten years ago and that’s pretty much the skinny. Plus the government officials are invariably venal at every level.
Forza Italia!
CINQUE 2010
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