The Hula Report: Where's the Party?

(ATR) With a week left in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, the biggest disappointment is the absence of much in the way of atmosphere across the metropolitan area.

While Brazilian organizers talked about the great party the country would throw, we keep looking for it. This is no Carnival or New Years. Not even close.

The venue clusters dispersed throughout the city are Olympic deserts. While there’s often a spirited crowd inside the half-filled venues, outside the under-decorated arenas there’s not much to see and do.

Except for the beach volleyball venue in Copacabana, the fabled strand is nothing special, with zero crowds.

Olympic Park in the western fringe of the city draws modest crowds but far from the way Olympic Park in London hummed four years ago. Inside the Rio venues crowds are spirited but more times than not half the seats are empty.

Rio Centro venues across the street from the Olympic Park are another uninviting stop for Olympic spectators. Five unadorned venues for five sports and nothing for spectators outside the arenas as if one were planning a day at the Olympics. Rio Centro ticket holders can’t even access the Olympic Park across the street—reportedly too hard for Rio organizers to arrange.

Deodoro, the most distant assortment of venues in the Rio western suburbs, is another spectator wasteland. The eight sports in venues scattered about the military base might as well be in earth orbit, as unconnected as they seem to be with one another. All of this at the end of a commute that might last up to two hours for spectators.

A live site in the center of Rio is the only one in the city proper. It draws crowds throughout the day but fails to breathe much life into a city that doesn’t really seem to care too much about the Olympics.

Even the politicians responsible for supporting Rio in one way or another don’t seem to give a whit about the Games. Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes, who had been making nearly daily public appearances ahead of the Games, has yet to be spotted at any Rio sports events. Saturday he opened a school.

Interim Brazilian president Michel Temer took in some judo the day after he declared the Games open.

Dilma Rousseff, the president Temer replaced, remains in Brasilia where she faces an impeachment trial right after the Olympics. Although she once expressed interest in attending the Olympics, she maybe can’t be faulted for not wanting to party in Rio. If only she could find one in the Olympic City.

The ultimate dead zone might well be around the IOC hotel, the Windsor Maripendi on the beach in Barra da Tijuca. It’s an area devoid of shopping,restaurants and nightlife. The hotel itself is now cloaked in a ring of steel fence security. It’s a real Fortress of Solitude for the supermen andsuperwomen of the IOC who voted for Rio. Maybe they need to party.

Shopping Tip of the Day- The Hippie Fair

The Ipanema Hippie Fair has been open every Sunday since 1968 in the Praca General Osorio, 9 to 5, rain or shine. It’s a market for handcrafts and art, not a flea market. Excellent place to find gifts and souvenirs.

Medal Events for Sunday August 14

Sunday's competition features the first medal rounds for the individual events in men's and women's artistic gymnastics, men's golf, sailing and wrestling.

Competitors in athletics, boxing, cycling track and weightlifting will continue their pursuits for gold on Sunday.

Sunday also represents the final medals forwomen's 3m springboard diving, fencing, shooting sport and tennis.

Meteorology

Sunday clear, high 29c, low 19c. Slightly warmer Monday. Rain possible Tuesday.

Written by Ed Hula.

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