Indifference to the Rio Olympics and the Birth of a Brazilian League Star: 2015 Sponichi Overseas Column
September 6, 2015
In Japan, the Tokyo Olympics seem to be a hot topic every day, albeit with negative content regarding the new National Stadium construction and the emblem issue. There was even a voice from a domestic organization saying that the Rio Olympics symbol 'looks similar. Did they copy it?' In the end, it concluded that the motif itself, where several people are holding hands to form a 'W' shape, is common. Some even asked if the mascot was inspired by Pokémon... In any case, in São Paulo, you almost never see the symbol or the mascot, so it's a matter that doesn't really matter either way.
Although it has been one year until the Rio Olympics, the Olympics are not much of a topic in Brazil. This is because the public's dissatisfaction with the current corruption-ridden administration is exploding in Brazil, and demonstrations against the government, the ruling Workers' Party, and President Dilma Rousseff are occurring in various places. In fact, the presidential election was held last October, and President Dilma's re-election was decided, so her new term has just begun. We have to wait another three years until the next presidential election, but corruption scandals are emerging one after another, and the country's economy cannot be rebuilt at all. In addition to the state where taxes are high but returns on education, public safety, and medical care cannot be expected, inflation is accelerating, and the real is only falling against the dollar. The middle class, who were all going on overseas trips, are screaming at the high dollar, and companies dealing in imported goods are also struggling with the strong dollar. In such a situation, it is far from the time for the Olympics.
Outside of Rio, the host city, there is an indifference as if people have forgotten about the Olympics, asking, 'Is the Olympics being held in this country next year?', but in Brazil, the first ticket lottery application for domestic residents with a taxpayer number started in April as a host country advance sale, and sales ended in June.
Popular events were, as expected, volleyball, soccer, swimming, basketball, and gymnastics. The most popular was the men's volleyball final, with 220 times the demand. In Brazil, Olympic soccer usually does not get as much attention as the World Cup, but this time, the enthusiasm is strong because it is being held in their own country, and they are aiming for their long-cherished first gold medal. However, with the reorganization of the Brazilian Football Confederation's representative department, the A-team manager will also serve as the Olympic team manager. Therefore, Dunga, who led the bronze medal team at the Beijing Olympics, will also lead the Olympic team this time. That said, there is not much talk about the Olympic team at the moment.
Well, tickets for popular sports were decided by lottery, but for many other minor sports, there was no need for a lottery. The price of most tickets is not high, at less than 10,000 yen, but because there is little interest in sports with few participants or unknown sports in Brazil, tickets for sports that are minor to Brazilians were easily bought without a lottery.
It is easy to understand if you compare it with the London Olympics; in London, 190 million tickets were put on sale for a population of 63 million in the UK. This time, only 4.5 million tickets were sold for a population of 200 million.
Donovan Ferretti, in charge of tickets for the Rio Olympics Organizing Committee, explained, 'It is the Brazilian national character not to start moving until the last minute. Many people have not yet made plans for a year ahead.'
As expected, the construction of venues for each sport is delayed. The Olympic Park is particularly worrying. The golf course is a new facility, but the grass has been planted, and it is currently going well for the test event in November. However, there is a nature conservation area near the venue, and it seems that a group of capybaras in the neighborhood often enters the golf course and leaves poop souvenirs... Does that mean the condition of the grass is very good?
Now, what the soccer world is worried about for next year's Rio Olympics is the schedule and the venue. Domestic soccer events should be held regardless of the Olympics, but the Maracanã will be prohibited from use from January 2016. Another stadium, the Engenhão, can be used, but since it will be the venue for track and field events (about 2 billion yen was spent on renovations), careful attention is required for its use.
Finally, the Brazilian national league, which started in May, is in full swing, with Corinthians, Atlético Mineiro, Grêmio, Palmeiras, and São Paulo occupying the top spots. On the other hand, Europe is currently in the period when the transfer market is open, and for Brazil, it is also a time when the team is forced to be dismantled in the middle of the season. São Paulo transferred six players to avoid financial difficulties. Furthermore, rumors about Alexandre Pato, the team's number one scorer who is said to have made a comeback, were discussed just before the transfer market closed, involving Tottenham of the Premier League and Manchester United, where Neymar's transfer did not materialize, but it did not happen in the end. As a Brazilian fan, I will be able to see Pato's performance in front of my eyes for a while longer.
And let me introduce a young player who is currently active in the Brazilian league. It is Gabriel Jesus of Palmeiras. Gabriel, who grew up in Palmeiras' youth department, is a golden egg who skipped from U-17 to U-20 last year and was promoted to the top team. He is a new star who has appeared in the Brazilian league, where only veterans are often treated as star players. U-17 manager Bruno Petri, who raised Gabriel, has cultivated not only his technique but also his heart with strict yet warm guidance.
'By skipping grades, Gabriel is not yet a perfect player, but he is a talented person with great potential and mental strength,' he guarantees.
In the match against Joinville in the 21st round of the Brazilian League held on August 30, Gabriel scored two goals and won, and the team rose to the top four teams called G4 (within the qualification for the Copa Libertadores).
'Palmeiras gave me a chance. I am very grateful. I want to make my own history here at Palmeiras. And I want to become a player who can make many Palmeiras fans happy,' he said, expressing his love for the club, and the supporters are also enthusiastic about the candidate for the club's hero who has appeared for the first time in a long while. Expectations for the Olympic team are also rising. Although there are many overseas players in the national team, it is noteworthy whether the name of Gabriel Jesus, who plays in Brazil, will be on the list for next year's Rio Olympics. (Mika Ohno = São Paulo Correspondent)