The Olympics. Possibly the most celebrated event shared by the whole world, is something that we look forward to every four years. It’s a wonderful gathering that celebrates the world’s best athletes as we watch them perform their crafts on the biggest stage. This event is usually held in some of the world’s most beautiful and tourist friendly cities. In the year 2016, the Olympics will be held in the city of Rio de Janeiro.

When westerners think of Rio de Janeiro, they may stereotypically think about white sandy beaches, surrounded by modestly constructed homes cluttered together, and people enjoying each other’s company.

However, these days in Rio de Janeiro, that couldn’t be farther from the truth. Rio has a growing police brutality issue, which naturally will cause an uproar from the people of the land.

In an article written by Alexi  Barrionuevo, he reports that “drug traffickers wielding what the police say they believe was a large-caliber weapon shot down a police helicopter just one mile from Maracana stadium, where the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympics will be held and the World Cup final will be played two years before the Olympics.”

However, people are quick to jump to the defense of Rio de Janeiro and the violence occurring in the city. This isn’t the first time that violence has erupted in a city hosting the Olympics according to Alexi Barrionuevo article.

“At least one member of the International Olympic Committee, which highlighted Rio’s security challenges as its chief concern before the vote on Oct. 2, was quick to point out that Rio was not the only city to endure violence after winning an Olympic vote.

In 2005, a day after London was awarded the 2012 Games, terrorists set off bombs on London’s trains and buses, leaving 56 dead and about 700 wounded

So what do you think? Should we trust Rio and send the most elite athletes in our country there, just to participate in the Games? Can this conflict be resolved in the country of Brazil soon enough to make countries comfortable enough to send their athletes there?

These questions can only be answered with time. Rio’s government officials are trying their best to curb the violence in the city, and to keep it that way.

“We want to get to 2016 with a Rio de Janeiro in peace before, during and after the Games,” Sérgio Cabral, Rio’s governor, said over the weekend.”