Not even the Zika virus can suppress the enthusiasm surrounding the 2016 Rio Olympics. One of the main reasons why many Brazilians are excited about this year's Summer Games is because of its income-generating nature.
Christina Marionetto, a native of Rio, told NBC News that she expects the international sports event to be "marvelous." Meanwhile, Cab driver Paolo Wagner explained that the influx of tourists will greatly help the regressing Brazilian economy.
"A lot of people [are] coming. Everyone [will] work a lot," he said. "People come with money - they help us too."
Former school teacher Emy Kelemen also shared the same sentiment. She mused, "I just hope everything turns out okay because ... Brazil is facing a lot of problems lately with the economy so bad, and the president is not so reliable. That said, Kelemen is still confident the Summer Games will turn out fine.
This year has not been a good one for Brazil. The country is suffering from a stifling economic crisis, predicated by credit rating downgrades, currency devaluation and 10-percent yearly inflation. To top that all off, growing fears of the Zika virus has threatened the successful staging of the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Brazilian sports minister George Hilton insisted to NY Daily News that the Summer Games will not be cancelled nor transferred to another venue. He said the International Olympic Committee and the Brazilian government is working double time to guarantee the safety of athletes and other international delegates.
According to BBC News, the epidemic was first reported in Brazil back in early 2015. Several countries quickly got hold of the report and have since issued travel warnings to South America. Meanwhile, women in Zika-stricken countries have been advised to hold off their pregnancies as Zika has been link to malformations in infants.
The Washington Post pointed out that 4,000 cases of microcephaly were reported in Brazil last year. That's an alarming increase from the 147 reported cases in 2014.
