Police insist Rio Favelas are safe

The Lieutenant Commander of the Brazilian police, UPP in Santa Marta, Tatiana Lima, insists the Favelas (slums) are safe with the start of Rio 2016 just days away.

There have been worries in the build-up to the Olympics about violence and there are mixed views from residents of the area about the Games.

The Favela in Santa Marta was famous by the video for Michael Jackson’s song They Don’t Care About Us.

“The UPP here in Santa Marta has a more touristic relationship. And some slums receive many tourists because they are different locations and that attracts curiosity from around the world, and also now it is considered a safe place.

“People come seeking a beautiful landscape, a different location at night, at day, to know a little more, to walk. So the community of Santa Marta receives a lot of tourists,” Lima assured.

But local sport teacher Eduardo Massena believes the Olympics could have a positive impact on the younger generation.

“This year we got tickets for the community children so they could go to the test event of the Olympics judo. They like it. I work a lot with sports that they don’t know. I give chess classes for them on Friday, and I’m introducing rugby. They didn’t know rugby, now they know the rules and know it is an Olympic sport,” she added.

“With the Olympics here something have improved a lot. It is very good. You are here. The slum is clean. The city is great. We have to see the positive side of the event. Things are better, so you can’t complain,” a resident added.