Congrats, Rio; Now Get to Work

Rio de Janeiro waltzed into Copenhagen on Friday, elbowed a couple of superpowers aside, whispered in the IOC's ear, and made off with the 2016 Olympics. But now in the cold light of day, Brazil has some serious roll-up-the-sleeves work to do. Its onetime oceanside gem now hangs on a dilapidated infrastructure and is riddled with crime.

Carnival aside, Rio is rated one of the most violent cities in the world, reports Bloomberg—the UN estimates that 20% of murders are committed by cops, and gangs routinely stop traffic to steal from drivers. Although many fear widespread corruption will derail Rio's Games, Reuters reports, others look to the example of Barcelona and the renaissance its 1992 Olympiad brought it.
(More Rio de Janeiro stories.)