'Joy, sadness' in Rio favela as poor locals view Olympics opening ceremony
RIO DE JANEIRO — Some people are afraid to enter this city’s notorious favelas, the low-income neighborhoods where drug-related violence creates fear. But on Friday night, $1.50 and a little faith could get you a ride on the back of a motorcycle to the top of the favela known as Mangueira — and, more importantly, get you access to some of the most spectacular views during the opening ceremony of the Summer Olympics.
Hundreds of locals and more than a few visitors watched from the steep, hillside roads as fireworks intermittently exploded atop Maracana Stadium, less than a mile from the favela known as Mangueira where some homeowners charged more than $300 for rooftop access.
Surrounded by neighborhood children, Mario Renato Xavier Damasceno, 58, wrestled with conflicting emotions as Brazil prepared to host the first Olympics staged in South America.
“We feel that it’s both a joy and a reason for sadness,’’ he said. “Because when this is over, the same sadness is going to keep going on.’
The country’s president is facing impeachment. The economy is in crisis. And that crisis, Damasceno said, led to him losing his job as a driver. Moreover, he said, the people in communities like Mangueira lack access to public hospital and schools — issues he predicted would be unresolved.
“When this party is done, then you’re going to have politicians fighting once again,’’ he said.
Watching the fireworks from nearby, Rosangela Rodrigues Carvalho said she once felt a similar cynicism.
“In the beginning I was against this, just like everybody,’’ said Carvalho, 51. “It’s a lot of expenditures, it’s a lot of construction work. I wouldn’t be here participating in this event but I started to see, I’m Brazilian, I’m Carioca from Rio de Janeiro, I live here in the community, so why not. So why not come here to pay homage and participate in this marvelous event that’s happening?’’
Eleonora de Freitas, 26 and a mother of two, asked a different question: “What’s it going to be like tomorrow? Today everything’s pretty, but what about tomorrow?
“It’s complicated because at the same time we’re happy to have this pretty event in our country. … I feel sad for all of the terrible things that are still happening.”