SPORT OLYMPICS
Paul Bush, VisitScotland’s Director of Events, voiced concerns over ticketing and connectivity but was left with a good overall impression of the Rio Games
What’s it like putting on the Greatest Show on Earth? Our man in Rio finds out...
20 | EVENTSBASE | AUTUMN 2016
BY PAUL BUSH OBE VisitScotland’s Director of Events
T
o begin, I have to ac- knowledge that my ac- count of the Rio Olympic Games is filtered through tinted glasses belonging to
a hardened events professional. But even with past experience to
draw upon, it is impossible to pin- point exactly where these Games fall in the spectrum of success. What I would hazard, however, is that Rio surpassed the expectations of most who’d followed the preparations for the 31st Olympiad with interest. Public perception is, largely, a
numbers game. So, it was under- standable that organisers prioritised presentation where most people would be watching: television. Undoubtedly, the pictures broadcast around the world from Rio’s various sporting locations portrayed a highly successful games. A green, algae-stained diving pool
aside, the sports presentation was nothing short of excellent and it made for compelling TV. Te canvas for sport provided across the main stadia (including Olympic Park, Te
Maracanã, Sambadrome Deodora, Lagoa and Olympic Golf Course) in- terspersed with tantalising imagery of this exotic destination, created a broadcast spectacle to rival London 2012. Neither did it hurt Brazil’s cause in
pulling off a seemingly beleaguered Games that a global audience of billions witnessed almost 100 new world and Olympic records, and the home nation’s best-ever medal haul. Performances were indeed equal to the presentation. It will also go down as a distinctly
‘Brazilian’ Games. It’s true the play- ful cultural identity of samba does lend itself favourably to a sporting context. Nevertheless, a contagious carnival atmosphere was established from the opening ceremony; even though a significantly lower budget than Danny Boyle’s extravaganza, athletes, officials and onlookers were swept up from the outset. But while great pains had been
taken to bring the rest of the world to Rio via broadcast media, there was a quite obvious crevice into which ef- forts to bring the people of Rio to the £3.5 billion games had fallen. It showed in spectator turnout.
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