The chances of the Olympics offering a distraction from Brazil’s woes may be undermined by the country’s own Olympic history. But, today, the Olympics are competing with both a harrowing recession and Brazil’s other public spectacle: bare-knuckled political dysfunction. Both Ms. Rousseff, a leftist, and Mr. Temer, who is shifting to the right, are deeply unpopular around the country. Challenges aside, some argue that the Olympics are just what Brazil needs to bring it out of its slump. Supporters say the traditional Olympic narrative often involves an escalation of tension before the Games, only to be replaced by excitement once they are underway.

Source: New York Times August 04, 2016 09:00 UTC