Douglas Seitz, Staff Writer

The Olympics are meant to be a spectacle that brings the world together to compete in athletics. What people don’t see, is what takes place behind the scenes in order for the games to actually happen.

Brazil accepted the games without having any facilities to house the athletes, or the proper facilities to hold the competition. In order to make Room for construction to occur, the government had the police force 80,000 people out of their homes and demolished the houses that they had lived in their entire lives. These people were left with nowhere to go

Senior, Tobias Netto, who is of Brazilian decent, was asked why he watches the Olympics.

“I like to see Brazil perform well against larger countries,” he said.

He was then asked if he knew this was done in preparation for the games and simply answered with “no.” He followed up with, “It’s hard for me to understand why they would do that. Are the Olympics really that important?”

Graduate student, Shauna Beller, was also in awe when told about this.

“The families of people, who probably support the event, should not have to give up their homes,” she said. “It seems like there should be other places in the world where the event could take place that people do not have to give up their homes. I would still watch the Olympics. However, it is disappointing that it is at the expense of people’s houses and I do not support that.”

The buildings that have to be constructed in order for the Olympics to happen take a large chunk of the finances. In the past, the buildings that get built for the games sit dormant and unused.

It’s a difficult pill to swallow because the Olympics are so loved by everyone, but they often ruin lives in preparation for the games, especially in countries that are facing financial Difficulties.

The Rio games cost upward of 12 billion dollars when 20 percent of the total population in Brazil is lives in Favelas. Many students feel that the money could be going towards bettering the lives of those individuals instead of making their situation even worse.

Thomas Rodano, Utica track athlete, was asked if he were an Olympic runner, would he still want to compete in the games.

“I would have doubts about going because people don’t deserve to have their lives ruined for the sake of the Olympics, Rodano said. “I would most likely still go but I would make sure to donate money in order to help those families.”

The Rio Olympics came at a high price, and the people who had to pay that price were not prepared for what they would have to give up.