Questions Linger About Rio’s Readiness For Olympics

Passengers walk past a banner that reads “Welcome to hell” and two dummies in the likeness of dead policemen during a police protest, demanding their payments and better labor conditions, at the Tom Jobim International Airport, in Rio de Janeiro earlier this week.
Passengers walk past a banner that reads "Welcome to hell" and two dummies in the likeness of dead policemen during a police protest, demanding their payments and better labor conditions, at the Tom Jobim International Airport, in Rio de Janeiro earlier this week. Silvia Izquierdo / AP Photo
Passengers walk past a banner that reads “Welcome to hell” and two dummies in the likeness of dead policemen during a police protest, demanding their payments and better labor conditions, at the Tom Jobim International Airport, in Rio de Janeiro earlier this week.
Passengers walk past a banner that reads "Welcome to hell" and two dummies in the likeness of dead policemen during a police protest, demanding their payments and better labor conditions, at the Tom Jobim International Airport, in Rio de Janeiro earlier this week. Silvia Izquierdo / AP Photo

Questions Linger About Rio’s Readiness For Olympics

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The opening ceremonies for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro will take place on August 5th, but the subway line that will connect Rio to the Olympic facilities is still being built. 

Earlier this week state police gathered outside Rio’s main airport and held up a sign saying “Welcome to Hell. Police and firefighters don’t get paid, whoever comes to Rio de Janeiro will not be safe.”

It all raises questions about whether Rio is prepared to host the 2016 Games. We speak with Dave Zirin, sports editor for The Nation and host of the Edge of Sports Podcast. He recently returned from a reporting trip in Brazil.