In the opening ceremony of Rio's Olympic Games, Brazil's favelas, or shantytowns, were showcased as the birthplace of a lot of Brazil's culture.That was showbiz. In three of the most iconic communities, the reality of how these Olympics are affecting favela residents is more complicated.Brazil is one of the most unequal countries in the world. In Rio, at least 25 percent of the population lives in impoverished communities.Take Santa Marta. Perched above Rio's expensive South Zone, it's the city's most internationally famous favela.Michael Jackson filmed the video for "They Don't Care About Us" here, and in response, the community has gotten a lot of attention over the years. It's sponsored by a paint company, so all the ramshackle housing is covered in pastels. It was the first favela to get community police when Rio launched its "pacification" program.These days, there is a bronze statue of Jackson, arms outstretched, in the middle of a small square surrounded by gift shops.Santa
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