(ATR) Brian Nowicki, 38, splits his time between Rio and the United States and the one question on his mind at the Olympic live site is: where are all the gringos?
Around the Rings spoke with Nowicki and other gringos, the Brazilian term for foreigners, at the Olympic Boulevard yesterday. The foreigners were standouts who, like the sea of Brazilians, were all there with the intention of soaking up the Olympic atmosphere. Located in the port area of Rio, the Olympic Boulevard is a five kilometer (3.1 mile) stretch of pedestrian area dedicated to showing Olympic sports and hosting concerts and sponsor activation events.
"Four or five years ago this place was nothing like this, and it has been completely transformed; this is not typically Brazilian," Nowicki said.
"I’ve been planning on being here during the Games for about 6-7 years. So far I think it is great, but I wish they had more of these big screens. Typically they have more of them, like during the World Cup, but for security reasons they aren’t doing it."
Brett Hughes and Courtney Nash, both in their mid-20's, came from all over California with their family to experience the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Like many foreigners they came prepared to see as many events as possible in the Olympic venues. The family had seen table tennis, beach volleyball, indoor volleyball, and gymnastics before venturing out to the boulevard.
"It’s pretty awesome; I love how they set it up, it feels like every culture is involved here," Hughes said to ATR. "We have a couple more days here, so we will probably be back."
Nash said that she probably would never have come to Rio de Janeiro, or Brazil, if it were not for the Olympic Games and called the culture here, "different, but a good experience." She said that the boulevard reminded her of the iconic Times Square in New York City, because of the crowds and vibrant atmosphere.
"This is definitely one of the nicer parts," Nash added. "It is so lively!"
Martin, 24, and Emily Bradshaw, 25, are brother and sister who trekked from Manchester, England to see the Games. Their Games experience has just begun, having landed last night, but they made the journey from Barra da Tijuca all the way up to Praca Maua to check things out.
"I expected it to be more like dancing and partying, but I have enjoyed it," Emily said. "We’re seeing the athletics on Saturday, and that’s exciting."
The pair said they would be eager to return to the live site, and were on their way to see the Olympic flame. The flame is housed near the Candelaria church, at one end of the boulevard. Organizers constructed a small hill in front of the cauldron, perfect for tourists to take selfies with the flame.
So why are gringos not gathering en masse at the boulevard? Nicola Pamplona, 41, a Brazilian journalist for Folha who was enjoying the setup, has one theory: the site wasn’t that well advertised for foreigners.
"I think they know Copacabana, Ipanema, and the neighborhoods by the beaches better," Pamplona told ATR. "I think there was not much advertising about this area for the gringos. You’re right; there are only a few here."
Pamplona said this visit was his third time coming down to the Boulevard, and he expected to be here "almost every night," during the Games. Like Nowicki, he still cannot believe the regeneration the city achieved here.
"Man, you should have seen this area before," Pamplona said. "There was a highway crossing over here and, now, it is just beautiful."
Written by Aaron Bauer in Rio de Janeiro
20 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is AroundTheRings.com, for subscribers only.
Recent Articles
Sinner-Alcaraz, the duel that came to succeed the three phenomenons
Beyond the final result, Roland Garros left the feeling that the Italian and the Spaniard will shape the great duel that came to help us through the duel for the end of the Federer-Nadal-Djokovic era.
Table tennis: Brazil’s Bruna Costa Alexandre will be Olympic and Paralympic in Paris 2024
She is the third in her sport and the seventh athlete to achieve it in the same edition; in Santiago 2023 she was the first athlete with disabilities to compete at the Pan American level and won a medal.
Rugby 7s: the best player of 2023 would only play the medal match in Paris
Argentinian Rodrigo Isgró received a five-game suspension for an indiscipline in the circuit’s decisive clash that would exclude him until the final or the bronze match; the Federation will seek to make the appeal successful.
Rhonex Kipruto, owner of the world record for the 10000 meters on the road, was suspended for six years
The Kenyan received the maximum sanction for irregularities in his biological passport and the Court considered that he was part of a system of “deliberate and sophisticated doping” to improve his performance. He will lose his record and the bronze medal at the Doha World Cup.
Katie Ledecky spoke about doping Chinese swimmers: “It’s difficult to go to Paris knowing that we’re going to compete with some of these athletes”
The American, a seven-time Olympic champion, referred to the case of the 23 positive controls before the Tokyo Games that were announced a few weeks ago and shook the swimming world. “I think our faith in some of the systems is at an all-time low,” he said.
