The city at the heart of 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics infrastructure preparations, Rio de Janeiro, has begun making strong progress as it seeks to use the events and sport to drive a major renovation of the ‘cidade maravilhosa’.
Confirmation that the redevelopment process is now well and truly underway was provided last week by the United Nations (UN) special adviser on Sport for Development and Peace, Wilfried Lemke, who toured a number of projects in the city following an invitation from Rio 2016 Organising Committee president, Carlos Arthur Nuzman.
Beyond a general presentation covering the overall project for the Games and transformations the city has already undergone, Lemke was also briefed on two key housing programs currently underway: the Morar Carioca project, which is going to integrate all Rio slums with the city until 2020, with R$ 8 billion-worth in investments benefiting 260,000 homes; and the Minha Casa, Minha Vida program, which is expected to build 56,000 house units by the end of 2011.
Lemke also visited the Cidade de Deus (City of God) community’s Youth Reference Centre, in West Rio, which has been set up in a partnership with the local Police Pacifying Unit (UPP in the Portuguese acronym) and provides the local population with access to educational and sports activities. The initiative is now being rolled out in other UPPs across the city.
During the visit Lemke suggested to the Games organisers and the government that potential young leaders identified in these projects be directed to a UN program that fosters leadership and positive examples in deprived communities.