Although the Queensland floods are almost unfathomable to many Australians, being both a current resident of Brazil and born and bred Sydney-sider with only a tourist-like knowledge of most of the affected areas, the significantly more lethal flooding here in Rio de Janeiro state is an all too common story for Brazilians.
Even someone with just a few years experience in the country.
With this in mind, I thought relevant a brief commentary on the situation to give some perspective to those sport enthusiasts thinking of visiting this great nation over the coming years.
The flooding in question is located near the northern border of Rio de Janeiro state, just 100km from the heart of the 2016 Olympic city, and is merely the latest tragic example of one of Brazil´s biggest recurring challenges.
Flooding is an annual threat in many parts of Brazil, particularly in the heavily populated south-east incorporating the three biggest states of Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and Minas Gerais, and will no doubt return in the wet seasons preceding the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics.
Importantly, the problem regularly affects not just rural and remote areas but also the dense capitals and other major cities of each state, creating havoc for literally millions of Brazilians and, with an eye on the approaching mega-events of 2014 and 2016, major risks for thousands of foreign tourists.
For example, the area of the 2011 floods, a beautiful mountainous region so very close to Rio city, is an important tourism destination with historic and cultural attractions, while such devastating downpours are also customary in Rio itself, Sao Paulo city and Belo Horizonte – the three key destinations for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
From a practical viewpoint, the current questions over urban planning and infrastructure, safety and evacuation procedures, transport systems, water management and associated issues clearly highlight some of the most pressing dilemmas to be addressed over the next few years and viable solutions to such will be key in preparing the country is for the millions of additional tourists expected during this period.
Indeed, improvements in Brazil’s abilities to plan for and manage such inevitable natural disasters could and should be one of the major legacies beyond the approaching golden era of sporting events.
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