The bitter legacy of the Olympics in Japan and Brazil

Broken promises, costly infrastructure, our correspondents take stock of the Olympic Games in two previous host countries: Japan in Tokyo in 2021 and Brazil in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

As the Olympic flame arrives in Marseille this Wednesday, May 8, 2024, the Correspondents’ Club is stopping off in Japan and Brazil, two cities that have already hosted the Olympic Games. Direction Tokyo, previous host city of these Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games. They were planned for 2020, but ultimately took place in 2021 because of the Covid pandemic. If the Japanese have good memories of the games from the sporting aspect, economically, the results are generally in deficit. Newly built infrastructure considered as the main legacy is in the red every year and costs even more.

In Brazil, the 2016 Olympics were a great celebration, but their legacy is far more problematic. Despite some important achievements, the explosion of costs and the countless crises that have plagued the country in the years that followed have tarnished its results. Especially since many promises have not been kept. But with the municipal elections approaching, the mayor of Rio de Janeiro is trying to restore the image of the legacy of the games.

Japan: Tokyo tries to attribute many developments to the Olympics

If we are to believe the small promotional clips from the Tokyo municipality, the legacy of the 2021 Olympics is multiple and important, but in reality, a little less. The positive aspect, first of all, overall, although very skeptical at the start, even downright against this sporting event, the Japanese have kept good memories of it on a sporting level, because the performances were there. But it’s a memory tinged with bitterness all the same since the public was banned because of Covid. The Tokyo municipality and the state tend to attribute many developments and developments to the Olympics, but these are necessary changes which, in any case, would have taken place without this event.

There are several figures for these Games, but they differ. That of the organizing committee estimates the total cost at 1,400 billion yen, or at the current very low rate of the Japanese currency around 8.5 billion euros, it was more at the exchange rate at the time. But this figure does not take into account several other expenses relating to the Olympics. So, all told, estimates range from 10 to 14 billion. No audience, no ticket revenue, therefore an overall deficit. But worse still, of the seven newly built sustainable infrastructures considered as the main legacy, six are in the red every year, therefore costing even more. The new national stadium is used in particular for concerts, in an attempt to make it profitable, but its acoustics are not at all suitable and therefore the public complains.

Numerous corruption scandals

The preparations for the games had been marred by numerous scandals and there has been a series of corruption trials for two years. One of the members of the organizing committee is accused of having demanded bribes from several major sponsors. This defendant, whose trial is still ongoing, denies it, but the managers of the companies concerned have admitted to having paid money secretly and have already been convicted in court. Needless to say, it’s a stain. This even prevented the city of Sapporo from being a candidate for the 2030 Winter Olympics.

Brazil: abandoned infrastructure, broken promises

The 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro are not a good memory for everyone. Nearly 80,000 people were expelled during the preparation for the games. A sacrifice necessary to transform Rio, according to the authorities of the time. But since these 13 billion euro Olympics, disappointment has dominated. The decontamination of Guanabara Bay remains a distant dream, when the 150 kilometers of trolleybus lines inaugurated have rapidly deteriorated. A new metro line was built, but one of the planned stations turned into a money pit. It is even, literally, a sinkhole, which the authorities have filled with water, to prevent the collapse of surrounding buildings. If we add uncontrolled real estate speculation, corruption, and neglected sports infrastructures, the results are not glorious. And then, as soon as the Olympics ended, the country plunged into crises, leaving a bitter taste for Brazilians.

A political issue for Rio

The tram and the renovation of the city center remain a great achievement. The mayor at the time, Eduardo Paes, back in power since 2020, intends to go further, transforming old promises into campaign arguments for this year’s municipal elections. He brushes aside criticism of wasted time and blames the crises as well as the erratic mandate of his successor. Eight years later, he resumes the inaugurations, as in February 2024. “I’m in the company of President Lula and a whole bunch of ministers, and here’s the story: behind me, the buildings were Olympic stadiums. The first one is going to become a public school for 1 000 children from neighboring neighborhoods, including the City of God, and the second, our minister will transform it into a federal campus”did he declare.

Three other schools, two swimming pools, a bus station, are also built from Olympic buildings. Everything is mainly concentrated in the western zone, where the majority of voters are located and where Jair Bolsonaro dominates. In municipal elections where the issues are national, the mayor is counting on the support of Lula, who for his part hopes to see his ally win a large victory in Rio.