In the shadows of the Rio 2016 Olympics

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The world’s attention is naturally focused upon the athletes at the Rio 2016 Olympics. But in the shadows of the bright lights of the games is a country facing deep political unrest and social inequality.

Around 1.4 million of the city’s residents reside in favelas which often lack proper sanitation, health care, education and security due to gang and police violence. Though plans for the Rio 2016 Olympic games had included initiatives to urbanize the favelas surrounding the stadium, those plans have mostly not materialized.