A Day Trip to Deodoro

(ATR) A visit to Deodoro, Rio’s second biggest cluster of venues after Olympic Park, is definitely an experience.

Heading north from Barra, the Olympic Park precinct, it is half an hour by bus and you notice one thing straight away – there is no traffic. And in Rio, this is definitely cause for notice.

The absence of the city’s ever-present traffic is due to TransOlímpica, one of the Games’ key legacies. TransOlímpica is a new expressway that incorporates the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system and is the third corridor dedicated to express bus lines in Rio and the second to transversely cross the city. And importantly, until the end of the Games, it is closed to public traffic.

If the novelty of clear roads isn’t enough to interest you, then the view out the windows surely will. With imposing rainforest-clad mountains on one side and some of the city’s poorest housing on the other, it shows the stark contrast between beauty and reality that is Brazil. In the semi-rural setting, horse and cart is still commonly in use – the horses somewhat confused but mostly unperturbed by the new six-lane flyover shadowing their yards.

Deodoro is home to the largest military concentration in South America, with the military club’s existing facilities hosting the Olympic equestrian, fencing, shooting and modern pentathlon.

Military presence on the streets is commonplace throughout Rio at the Games, but on the road to Deodoro it is on a different level. Tanks parked on the road and soldiers perched on hilltops – combined with the closed roads, it all gives off a slightly uneasy feeling of a city at war.

The increased security measures are Rio 2016’s response to growing concerns following the attack on a media bus leaving the basketball venue and a bullet that was fired into the equestrian media center.

The district is very poor and crime is prevalent; add to which there is much antagonism from locals about the money being spent on the Olympics. So there is unfortunately no surprise that there are issues, and Rio 2016 organizers need to be seen to be taking action.

The reaction from journalists differs. Some have now been told by their national security advisors to only travel to Deodoro when absolutely necessary, meaning they are covering sport from the TV in the main press center instead of being at the actual event. Others however, are not as concerned and the number of media and spectators at events throughout Deodoro yesterday confirmed this.

The organization at the Deodoro venues is hit and miss, but overall the atmosphere is great. The Whitewater Stadium at the purpose-built X Park was loud during the slalom competition on Thursday and the crowds for the men’s rugby sevens finals were impressive.

Competition continues at Deodoro until the end of the Games with the excitement of BMX and the traditional event of modern pentathlon still to commence.

Written by Alice Wheeler in Deodoro

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