Obrigado Brasil

Before coming to Brazil, I didn’t really understand why Brazilians tend to be so proud of their country. Now, after having spent almost two months there, I received adequate answers for my questions. Thanks to these wonderful times, I also started to feel proud of my host country and I became a bit Brazilian :) 

In my last ’Olympic Fever’ blog post I am trying to provide a non-biased, objective evaluation of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and my overall experience in Brazil. For sure, it won’t be an easy task as the country and its people had a great impact on me..

On the back side of the card

Undoubtedly, there were a number of issues which jeopardized the success of Rio 2016. One of the main concerns was the security of athletes and supporters. Brazil - and Latin America in general - has never been a safe haven, with many of its metropolises ranked in the top 50 most dangerous cities on earth. From pity crimes, rapes to homicides the variety of local violence is a well-known risk factor. In order to offset the situation, for the time of the Games Rio was taken over by a large number police and military officers and the highest level of security was ensured. Still, two of my friends were pick pocketed in Lapa district and I heard of creepy stories I did not want to believe. On the other hand, I am convinced that major issues can be avoided with a bit of precaution and forward looking mentality: during my two-month stay in Brazil I have never been assaulted and none of my personal belongings was stolen. Moreover, I did not hear about a single case where supporters were seriously harassed by local criminals and not even the story of Mr Lochte turned out to be true.

The level of organisation also accounts for the decreased overall success of the event. From my point of view especially the volunteering program was disorganised: some teams completely lacked adequate workforce and/or proper management which resulted in a number of drop-outs. Many international volunteers received their formal invitations only a month before kickoff time and consequently many of them have to withdraw their applications due to the extremely expensive accommodation and flight prices. Fortunately, my LAN team was one of the bright exceptions which can be mainly explained by our privileged role and professional management. Thanks Mark! 

The issue of half empty stadiums shall be mentioned as well here. In contrary to London Olympic Games many of the stadiums lacked spectators, especially when Brazilian athletes were not involved in the compatition. Tickets were not too expensive, however still many Brazilians could not afford to buy them and apparently many international supporters renounced their trips due to the above mentioned security issues and the alleged zika epidemic. Volunteers were provided free tickets to fill up empty seats in some of the less visited sport events. Maybe, if Mr Hickey (ex-EOC chief who turned out to be a ticket-scalper) manages his business better, there could have been more supporters...

International media: the shame

Media is often considered to be the fourth branch of governments, having the power to influence, direct and brainwash people. If there is a negative aspect not related to the organisation of Rio 2016, it is definitely the approach of international media towards the event. All the bullshit I had to read before, during and after the Games only convinced me about the importance of participatory media and citizen journalism which provide opportunities to better understand the world around us.

Sitting at a press conference in the Lagoon, I was appalled to see the approach of some reporters. There was a man from a well-known press agency who had only one question to ask from the athletes which concerned the water quality of the lagoon. Apparently, he was not interested in the performance of the athletes and he only wanted to hear some nasty stories which can be sold and published on the headlines of major online and offline media. On the other day a French lady contacted me on facebook (!) asking for stories about volunteers who were not satisfied about their jobs and dropped out consequently. Well, she did not find the right person in me as my team was probably one of the best organised and privileged units in the Olympic Stadium.

Brazilians do it better

Notwithstanding these circumstances, I am convinced that IOC made a good decision by giving a chance to a South American country to host the Games. Even if this choice was rather enforced by corrupt decision makers and not the people of Brazil, finally the country was given opportunities (together with the football world cup in 2014) to showcase its culture, hospitability and welcoming spirit to the world. I am truly honoured for having spent two months in this beautiful corner of the world while absorbing various aspects of Brazilian culture. I am particularly grateful to my hosting organisation, Fundacao Gol De Letra, for having me involved in their activities during which I could observe the precious work realized in some of the most disadvantaged communities in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. One more time, it was proven to me that sport is a low-cost and effective tool to support educational development of young people coming from difficult circumstances.

The amount of warm welcoming, hospitality and help which I received in Brazil cannot be compared to any other places where I have been on this globe. From the beginning till the last days I met people who were always opened to my words and requests and provided me valuable advices and tips for my stay in Brazil. I have to admit that without my Portunol knowledge I could have had some difficulties in communicating with locals, but I believe a gringo should also know the basic language of his/her host country.

Prior to the Olympic Games Brazilians did not promise the highest level or organisation, but an amazing celebration in which they are undoubtedly experts. In spite of difficulties, people here enjoy life in a way that is unknown for many western-minded people who tend to find their joy and happiness in consumption. Brazilians never forget to enjoy the most important gifts of life from friendly conservations to lengthy and delightful dinners which often end up in cheerful celebrations and dance. From the traditional forró to Brazilian funky this country has everything for those ones who want to enjoy the bright side of life. Of course, we should not forget about Caipirinha! 

The Legacy of Rio 2016

Although I tend to be critical towards the long-lasting impacts of mega sport events, there are certainly some positive improvements which the Rio Olympic Games managed to advance. Through my conversations with local cariocans I found out that many of them are particularly satisfied with the improvements in the infrastructure, especially when it comes to public transport. For instance, due to the newly opened metro 4, Barra district is now better connected to the south part of the city. From my point of view, public transportation worked surprisingly well during the Olympics and most of the venues were well connected and accessible for visitors. The much needed purification of the lagoon’s water also took place due to the Games.

On_the other hand, I also have to mention that the Games did not bring much benefit for the most excluded social groups of Rio de Janeiro. By crossing one of the most notorious favelas of Rio, I spotted a huge graffiti calling for the end of exclusion from the Olympics. In fact, lacking financial means and proper employment opportunities, favela dwellers hardly had any chance to join the biggest event of earth taking place in their own city. From this point of view the social legacy aspect of Rio 2016 can be questioned and we have to admit that these kind of mega-sport events will hardly bring any benefit for the lowest social strata. Sport can only be an instrument in the service of a lengthy social transformation process, however without adequate economic and political wills this transformation might not ever happen.

Closing Remarks

Although many people were convinced that this Olympic Games would be a failure, Rio 2016 turned out to be an unforgettable celebration for the world. Despite the obvious difficulties, organisers made enormous efforts in order to satisfy the needs of an often critical and suspicious international community. Brazilians showcased to the fullest their welcoming nature and hospitability to the rest of the world. Following the FIFA World Cup in 2014 and the Olympic Games in 2016, Brazil’s global image and perception shall be changed for the better. I personally believe, if the world was inhabited by Brazilians, it would be a more peaceful and happier place! After all, I only have love for this marvellous country and its people! Obrigado! Até logo :)

With this last post my blog came to its end. Hereby, I would like to thank you for the great number of visits and I hope you enjoyed reading my lines. I consider this blog as a success and I look forward to creating a new and better one on my next adventure to Latin America (hopefully)! 

The time of our lives: Rio 2016

Without any doubt, the last two weeks were the most intense and memorable time of my life. The amount of unforgettable moments together with amazing people from all over the world lead to pure Olympic joy and happiness which can be hardly compared to any other human feelings. Maybe the picture below depicts the best my satisfaction with these last two weeks. For sure you know, I am standing between Katinka Hosszú, three times Olympic champion swimmer and her husband-trainer Shane Tusup:

In the Olympic Stadium

In_Engenhao a short 4-days break followed the football group games and last Friday the athletics competitions commenced. Being the part of the Language Assistance Team we were utmost privileged to work in the vicinity of the best athletes of the world.  If no assistance was needed in the broadcasting areas we mainly supported the operations of the mixed zone where athletes were meeting the press to give interviews. Usain Bolt or Mo Farah passing in front of me was just as regular as taking metro 3 in Budapest. Unfortunately it was strictly forbidden to take pictures with our modern-days heroes, but some of them volunteered to do so. Usain Bolt is the perfect living example of coolness and sociability! The biggest story of the week was the ad-hoc birthday party organized for him by volunteers following his third victory. 
               

Lagoon (Lagoa)

As Hungarian athletes were not that involved in athletics, I was requested to support the finals of kayak and canoe sprints which are considered to be the main medal bringer sport disciplines for Hungary. At the amazing venue of Lagoa it was hard to find a final without Hungarian interest. According to our expectations, Hungarian ladies excelled in these competitions, however none of our male athletes could conquer medals this time. By winning all of her races, Danuta Kozák became the heroine of Rio 2016 female kayak competitions and she even had the time to take a photo with me:

The Lagoon in the heart of the city is just simply amazing. Although the international media had serious concerns about the water quality, most of the athletes agreed that there were no major issues at the time of the competitions. The Language Assistance Team here was very welcoming I am really grateful for their helpfulness and availability.

Other Olympic Venues

Of_course, there were a number of sport events which I visited during these last weeks. Olympic volunteers were rewarded with free tickets, but we believe the organisers also aimed to fill up empty seats in less visited venues. This I how I could follow in live some interesting sports such as Rugby 7 in Deodoro or Weightlifting in Riocentro. Furthermore, having the opportunity to see water polo games in Barra through the Olympic Legacy project (see below) was just the icing on the cake!

In_addition, visiting national houses became a favourite leisure time activity for many Brazilians and international supporters. Depending on the goodwill of the hosting nations some houses were free to enter while others were only for invitees. Most popular houses involve the Swiss, the French and the Austrian ones which were mostly free to enter. I could not get in to this latter as there were always never-ending lines before the entrance.

The Hungarian House

Hungary also followed the examples of other states by setting up a national house in one of the most privileged locations of Rio the Janeiro, the Gavea district. The promotion of the Budapest 2024 Olympic bid also played a role in establishing this cultural exhibition, however the main idea was to showcase the greatness of Hungarian sport. I believe Hungarian descendant Brazilians were the most excited about the place, which also became the favourite meeting point for Hungarian supporters and media. The first time when I visited the house I was accompanied by members of the Language Assistance Team from the Lagoa who were amazed by its location and content. I also have to admit; this time the organisers hit the nail on the head!

Thanks to the goodwill of the Budapest 2024 staff we managed to organize a meeting for Hungarian volunteers at the time of a reception to commemorate the National Day of Hungary. To open the reception it was Thomas Bach president of the IOC who was followed by the internationally renowned prime minister of my country. The Hungarian group of volunteers was also welcomed by the president of the Hungarian Olympic Committee who apparently did not know have a glue about the number and motivations of Rio volunteers. On top of that he did not make an effort to understand how much voluntary work is needed for the success of the Olympic Games, as for him the only factor of success is the number of Hungarian gold medals. Well, at least some of the volunteers got to know each other :)

Olympic Legacy Youth Exchange

Last but not least I have to mention a wonderful project which was funded by the European Union and I happen to be part of it as one of the coordinators. The main objective of the Olympic Legacy youth exchange was to create opportunities for talented young people from less privileged backgrounds in terms of participating and volunteering in Rio 2016 Olympics. The one-week long event brought together over 30 young people from Brazil, the UK and Hungary in the spirit of Olympic friendship, solidarity and understanding.

Participants and the support staff were hosted by Gol de Letra Foundation in one of the most disadvantaged districts of Rio, called Caju. The program featured sport activities, discussions, team building games, cultural activities and of course visiting Olympic events such as the swimming competition, water polo or judo. I am really glad that the youth exchange ended with a success and we managed to create a life-long experience for the young people involved in this initiative! Being an ongoing project you can learn more in the official website of the project: http://olympiclegacy.eu/

Only a few days left for me here in Brazil, on Thursday I am flying back to Europe. One more blog post is coming soon to commemorate this amazing Brazilian experience. 

Ready, steady, Rio 2016!

Only a couple of hours left and the largest sport festival of the globe will officially open its doors with a grandiose ceremony. Certainly the upcoming two weeks will be unforgettable experience for many athletes, supporters, volunteers and people all around the world. I feel utmost privileged for having the opportunity to follow the happenings live in Rio at one of the main venues of the Games.

For me, the Olympic dream already commenced weeks ago. Mark, the American manager of the Language Service Team of the Athletics Stadium (called as Engenhão by locals) contacted me with an offer I could not refuse. As the member of this wonderful team I am facilitating the communication between the Olympic Family and different departments of the venue such as the media, doping department and medical services. In comparison to other volunteers we have regular contacts with athletes, managers and other members of the Olympic family and our role mainly involves assistance at press conferences, mixed zone interviews and other locations inside Engenhão. 

Everything started with accreditation and uniform pick-up the day after my arrival to Rio. When I was there the administration went pretty smoothly and I found the procedures well-organized and professional. Being the member of an operational team I received a yellow uniform, although the green one definitely fits me better... Moreover, I was spoiled with supplementary equipments and fancy little olympic gifts. On the same day I took part in a face-to-face training featuring sessions on the rules and regulations of the Games and key interpretation techniques.

As an Olympic volunteer I was offered the chance to take part in the main rehearsal of the Games’ opening ceremony. I went to the holy Maracana with other Hungarian volunteers to let the audience know we are here! People, this event is going to be spectacular! 

My shifts already started this week. Since Engenhão is one of the football venues, a couple of group games are organized here. Wednesday started with female football, Sweden vs South Africa and Brazil vs China. No needs to say, everyone was interested in the second game in which Brazil defeated its opponent with pleasing game and 2 fantastic goals.

Yesterday, there were even more supporters to see the Portugal-Argentina game which also ended with 2-0 for the young team of the European champions.

Certainly, you also want to hear about the circumstances and the local citizen's moral in the Olympic City. Well, Rio was invaded my supporters and the military at the same time. I have never seen such level of military preparedness: vessels cruising at Copacabana bay, helicopters all over the city and an uncountable number of soldiers, policemen and military vehicles on the streets. 

And a good advise for you, dear readers: Don’t always believe the media! In these days I have seen articles in the Hungarian and international media which depicts Rio de Janeiro as one of the burrows of hell. Certainly, the situation has never been easy here and the Games will not benefit the lowest strata of cariocan population at all. Pick pocketing and robbery are the Olympic sports for a tiny percent of Rio’s population but these pity crimes can be avoided with some precaution and common-sense. Furthermore, it’s not a secret to reveal that there are problems with the organisation, and especially the lack of forward-looking approach prevails. There are volunteer teams which do not have enough workforce and we were asked to help them out by giving directions for supporters.  

Nevertheless of these difficult circumstances Brazilians are trying to do their best to impress the world with their amazing culture and hospitality. In the shadow of the negative and offensive voices from international media many locals are extremely proud and excited about Rio hosting the Games this year. I need to stress the great amount of help which I received by Brazilians over these weeks. One thing for sure: Brazilians promised the greatest celebration on earth and there is no doubt they are the experts of this topic!  So let this olympic craziness begin!  

With a backpack around Brazil

In the last two weeks I took advantage of my relaxed schedule before the Olympic Games’ kick-off and I transformed into an adventurous backpacker to discover this amazing country.

Weekend trip in Rio de Janeiro

The number one destination of Brazil leaves you breathless for the first time. She slowly and imperceptibly captures you and when you think you had enough, she teases you even more. Whoever gets in touch with Rio is going to have a hard time to let her go. Rio, you beautiful bitch!

It wasn’t an easy task to squeeze all the major sights in a weekend trip, but I tried to accomplish this mission together with Szimi. Hosted in Copacabana we had a strategic base to conquer Corcovado, Lapa, Ipanema and other key areas of this marvellous place. The Brazilian ’winter’ was generous to us by offering over 25 degrees and sunbath for the first day on Copacabana, however Saturday’s lazy afternoon was cancelled by the windy weather on Ipanema.  There we accidently run into a young salesman who knew that Hungarian is an extremely difficult language and he even explained us that we use many affixes and suffixes. Wow, impressive! This is how to sell deck chairs for us!

If there is one thing that a backpacker will not like about Rio is the huge horde of tourists taking over the city’s most visited points. There is no season in the year when you would find Rio without tourists taking selfies in the corners of Copacabana, the Selaron Steps of Lapa or beneath Christ the Redeemer. At this latter, you can get into a massive fight to be rewarded with a photo lacking backpacks, cameras, hands and other parts of the human body. It is hard to imagine what will happen during the Olympic Games when hundreds of thousands supporters will invade the city. 

Favela tour in Sao Paulo

If you are coming to Brazil, you were probably advised to avoid favelas as far as you can. These slums are the indispensable parts of the average Brazilian city landscapes characterized by extreme poverty, criminality and drug trade. Although favales have long history, most of them where erected during the seventies when thousands left rural villages in search of better conditions in rapidly expanding economic centers, like Sao Paulo.  In contrary to their expectations many of them ended up in slums without employment opportunities, adequate living conditions and hope for a better life.

Shortly after our return from Rio to Sampa I had the opportunity to take part in an organized favela walk in one of the marginalized communities of Vila Albertina. The walk was organized by Gol de Letra Foundation and lasted for about 1,5 hours. It was guided by experienced social workers who are in day-to-day contact with the members of local community. In contrary to your expectations many of favela dwellers are welcoming and hard working individuals who are trying to make a change in their circumstances.  I was not allowed to use my phone on the streets, but I managed to take some sneak peak pictures inside the favela.

Discovering the Iguaçu Falls

In Brazil distances are enormous and a single bus ride within a state can last for several hours (yes, Brazil is a Federative Republic with 26 states). If you are travelling overstate get ready for even longer rides. Domestic airlines are good alternatives of coach companies, however if you are about to book a week before your departure, you will probably not find a ticket at a reasonable price. Having decided on the trip on my last week in SP, I went for the cheaper and less convenient option, taking the courage to sit on a coach for 16 hours. Not even a slight delay of 2,5 hours could overwrite my first day program at the Brazilian side of the falls.

Foz do Iguacu is the primary destination for tourists visiting the Falls. The city is situated in the close vicinity of the Argentinean and Paraguayan borders, and not surprisingly its economy is largely dependent on tourism. Besides the flourishing hotel business, AirBnB is also a lucrative economic activity of local citizens, it was super easy to find a cheap room for me online. Shortly after my arrival I rushed to catch the first bus in the direction of Iguacu National Park. The Brazilian side of the falls offers less opportunities in terms of outdoor activities (hiking, rafting), however is still visited by hundreds of thousands tourists per year. Weekends are especially busy, but the entry system and the transportation are surprisingly well-organised.  Inside the National Park a double-decker takes you to the starting point of the trail where hungry little animals called coatis welcome you in order to get some food. Taking the trail, the visitor will have amazing views of the largest waterfall system of the world:

My visit to the Argentinean side of the falls was scheduled for Sunday. This daytrip turned out to be more adventurous than expected. Buses to Argentina have no schedule on Sundays and their departure time is unpredictable to foresee. Fortunately I only had to wait 40 minutes to catch the ride and after an easy border check I found myself in the Argentinean side. My portunol knowledge helped me a lot to find the bus taking me to the entrance to the Parque Nacional de Iguazú. It was only there when I realized that non-MERCOSUR citizens have to pay almost the double amount of fine Argentinean pesos to enter. Of course, I did have enough cash with me and the teller machine was broken. I tried to convince them in all possible ways to get the discounted ticket: pretending to be from Venezuela (fail), pretending to cry like an abandoned baby (no success). Instead, I was suggested to withdraw money from inside the park’s eatery district. So they let me in, but as I returned to the gates the guy was no more there, he probably went for a lunch break..... Sorry Argentina for not giving my money to support your future project in being the most organised country of the world... and Gracias for this amazing view of the Devil’s Throat:

Quick visit to Curitiba

In Europe, not many people have heard about the capital of Paraná state, Curitiba. Better to say, the majority of the European citizens do not even know it exists. However, with its two million inhabitants and booming economy Curitiba is an important regional centre connecting Paraná state with the rest of Brazil. In overall, Curitibans enjoy the highest standards of life and the city is just as well organized as some of the Northern European cities. It was my honour to be hosted by Guilherme, personal trainer and former visiting student of the Budapest based University of Physical Education.  He took me to the best burger place of the city and he provided me with advices concerning the main sights of the city. I followed his suggestions and visited beautiful places just like the botanic garden or the historic city centre: 

...... and now it's finally time for Rio 2016! 

Brazil: the land of football and food

During the first week after my arrival to Sao Paulo, I was given the most appropriate answer from Eduardo, trainer and social worker of Gol De Letra Foundation, to describe the essence of Brazil:

“You will see, Brazil is all about football and food!”

Maybe he exaggerated a bit, but I can already bring up a set of examples to prove his statement.

When my girlfriend, Szimi, arrived to Guarulhos International Airport, we took an uber ride back to the city. For curiosity I started a conversation with the driver, and just by mentioning the name of Palmeiras football club, he took us to the other side of this enormous city (without us acknowledging the change in travel plans) to take a look at the newly built Allianz Parque, home of Palmeiras FC. Needless to say, he was a Palmeiras fan and a self-made tourist guide without any knowledge of English.

In contrary to others, Brazilians don’t just talk about football, but they practice it. During this short time, we have seen as many football games as homeless people randomly sleeping on the sidewalks. The game is played basicly everywhere:

Football in the city park

Football on the beach

Football on the street

Football on the walls

Food is another essential part of Brazilian everydays and we already had the opportunity to taste various local specialities, like the one and only feijoada. Taking advantage of the generosity of our hosting organisation, we were invited to the 16^th best restaurant in Latin America, called Mocotó. At one point we lost in the huge variety of the North-East Brazilian dishes and exotic coctails.

Last weekend we visited Santos, a city lying on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean, about 50 kms South-East to Sao Paulo. Accidently we run in to the yearly coffee festival which made us possible to freely enter the famous Coffee Museum and consume as much caffeine as we have never done before. Santos played an important role in making Brazil one of the major coffee exporters of the world as a significant portion of Brazilian coffee production was shipped overseas from the city’s port. Maybe the only mentionable attraction of the run-down city enter is a tourist tram, called streetcar by locals, offering a 30 minutes ride around the colonial buildings of the old-times Santos.

Just like Brazil, Santos is also characterized by huge social-economic differences. Taking a bus from the run-down city centre in the direction of the always busy Southern cost reminded me of a quick time travel from the colonial times to the modern Brazil. Undoubtedly, Brazil has experienced a robust development in the last decades which made it one of the biggest economic powers of the world. 

And what do I do on weekdays?

I follow the activities of Gol De Letra Foundation, a Brazilian NGO funded by two outstanding football players, Rai and Leonardo. Gol de Letra uses the magical power of sport to educate young people from marginalized, disadvantaged communities, such as Vila Albertina in the North part of Sao Paulo. Unfortunately, I arrived just before a three-weeks long school holiday (called winter break) during which the foundation runs limited activities. Still, I managed to take part in some outdoor programs organised by young people (called monitores) to young people:

As a great honour, I was also assigned to teach English for some Brazilian youngsters at the office. As you can see below, I not always succeed.