The origin of favelas, Brazil's informal housing settlements, are linked to the end of slavery. In the late 19th century many of country's newly freed slaves moved to Rio de Janerio in hopes of employment. With limited resources and no other alternatives, citizen began to build shelters on uninhabited land. At the time the land they settled had little value and lacked government services. These communities have grown very fast over the years, to some extent because of the government's indifference. As the population expanded over the last century, so did the building of homes. Eventually homes were built of sturdier material, bricks and mortar.
According to the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics nearly 1.4 million people are living in Rio de Janeiro's favelas (IBGE, 2010). That is approximately twenty two percent of the city's residents. This number grows every year with more and more people moving from the countryside in the north to cities like Rio de Janeiro. With little to no money, most of these migrants settle in the favelas where the rent is feasible. Often times living in the favelas means living with no formal systems of clean water, sanitation, and healthcare. .
Today most favelas are ruled by drug cartels and are often depicted as being inhabited by immoral and criminal populations. Brazilian cities are known for being some of the most violent places in the world. In 2010 alone there were 40,974 murders. While this is certainly true of some favelas, it is unfair to tarnish all residents with the reputation of being lawless and violent. .
There is a long history of minority marginalization thanks to mega sporting events. More recent examples include the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. The host country in these case studies are rapidly developing economies and experiencing increasingly central roles in the global economy. The Brazil can be seen in similar light, its gross domestic product ranked seventh in the world in 2012 (IMF).
