Rio’s Olympic organizers promised there’d be no white elephants after the crowds and athletes went home. Unfortunately, six months later there’s a herd charging through Brazil’s run-down second city.From the dead grass at the world famous Maracana stadium to the unsold apartments in the 31 towers of the athletes’ Village that were meant to become a new luxury neighborhood, you don’t have to look far to see the unfulfilled promises of South America’s first Olympic Games.
Even a year before the Games started, a top official in the mayor’s office, Pedro Paulo, promised: “We will leave no white elephants.” Right before the August 21 closing ceremony, then mayor Eduardo Paes repeated the assurance.City and sports officials point to a new metro line and bus network as lasting achievements. AFP