It is not surprising that the inhabitants of Rio are talking about the “Games of Exclusion”. The legacy of the 2016 Olympic Games will mean for them: A militarized city marked by social exclusion. A week of action by grassroots organizations aims to make the high social costs of the 2016 Olympic Games visible.
Forced relocations, favelas occupied by the military, environmental sins and construction measures full of irregularities – this is the footprint left by the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. Recently, these consequences were accurately recorded on a map for the first time. The network “Comite Popular Rio Copa e Olimpiada”, supported by terre des hommes schweiz, published a map that shows the neighborhoods where forced evictions or military interventions in favelas took place, where environmental damage was caused and which construction projects resulted in injustices and violations of labor rights.
Alternative games for the marginalized
But digital documentation alone is not enough. The campaign “Rio 2016, the games of exclusion” (Jogos da exclusao) wants to make the high social costs of the mega-event visible on the streets. The grassroots organizations in Rio are therefore holding a week of action from 2 to 4 August with demonstrations, debates, workshops and exhibitions. The closing rally on 5 August 2016 is intended to be a colourful and self-organized counterpoint to the pompous opening ceremonies of the Games. The Comite Popular has published a detailed program of the “Games of Exclusion” on Medium.com.
