Organizers Say Local Support For Rio 2016 Olympics Boosted By World Cup

Organizers said that local support for the Rio 2016 Olympics "has grown after the country hosted a successful" World Cup, according to Danielle Rossingh of BLOOMBERG. The world’s most-watched sports event "finished without any major hitches following months of public criticism about partially-finished stadiums, labor strikes and threats of mass protests." Before the World Cup less than half of all Brazilians "had a favorable view of South America’s first Olympics." After the World Cup, that was increased to 65%. Local organizers "welcomed the re-election" of Brazil President Dilma Rousseff. Rio 2016 Communications Dir Mario Andrada said, "President Dilma knows the project very well and her team also knows the project very well" (BLOOMBERG, 10/28).