FT LatAm Viva For 5 August, 2016

Rio kicks off By John Paul Rathbone  August 5, 2016 Despite the flickering torch, sewage in the bay, late snagging work, political protests, Zika, the arrest of purported terrorists, an Australian TV crew assailed by transvestites  and even the brief kidnapping of a sport mogul’s mother-in-law, the Rio Olympics finally kicks off on Friday night. For all its problems, controversies and over-spending, if Brazil’s 2014 World Cup is anything to go by, as a sporting event the Olympics will also likely be a great success. The intoxicating feeling of being at the center of a world-watched event will descend onhapless Rio de Janeiro. And a semi-dream state will likely envelope the city and perhaps the whole country for a few weeks, as it did with the soccer championship two years ago. Then, when Brazil wakes up again at the end of August, the country will return to its business and the Olympian-sized political drama of Dilma Rousseff’s possible impeachment.  First, though, the games. Elsewhere in much of the region, holiday mode seems to have descended – at least in terms of news. Not so in Venezuela, where the opposition continued its two-steps forward/one step back progress towards a recall referendum that could see President Nicolas Maduro ousted. In an ominous sign, though, Mr Maduro also appointed General Nestor Reverol as his new interior and justice minister. Mr Reverol, the former head of the national guard, was indicted this week in the US on drug-smuggling charges. Quote of the week “Keep out of the reach children” - a tongue-in-cheek logo printed on bags of cocaine seized by police this week in Rio. Other views Having already failed, the Rio Olympics may now succeed Chartwatch The week in review Rio Olympics 2016: Cybercriminals to target visitors   Experts warn of surge in online attacks around the sporting event     Olympic flame’s road to Rio highlights challenges facing Brazil   Brazil odyssey shines light on challenges facing first emerging market democracy to host the Games     Brazil pins hopes on Neymar to win elusive Olympic football gold   Despite winning five World Cups, the country’s football team have always failed at the games     Hosting a games no panacea for hurdles of Olympian proportions   Rio’s problems are unlikely to be fixed just by holding the games     Pressure grows on Venezuela’s president Nicolás Maduro   Opposition ready to start next phase in a referendum to recall president     How Brazilians cope with terror in everyday life   Notebook: Jokes about foiled terror plot before the Olympics are self-defence, writes Samantha Pearson     Police rescue mother-in-law of Bernie Ecclestone   Brazilian anti-kidnap squad storms hide-out near São Paulo     Rio’s charismatic mayor stays upbeat in face of Olympics critics   Claims of botched preparations ahead of Friday’s opening fail to unsettle city’s leader     AccorHotels aims high in Brazil expansion   French group wants 400 hotels in recession-hit country by 2020     Lula da Silva and six others to be tried   Investment banker André Esteves among those facing obstruction of justice case in Brazil