Cariocas hoping Olympics will give them new city

RIO DE JANEIRO — Rio's citizens are anxiously awaiting Friday's vote on the 2016 Olympics host, hoping a victory will transform the city.Well known for its unrivaled natural beauty and fun-loving people, Rio is also remembered for its violent crime and the poverty of millions of people living in the city's slums.The Cariocas, as Rio citizens are known, believe the Olympics have the power to improve basic conditions and diminish some of the city's biggest problems."If Rio gets the Olympics, like I hope, it will happen. I think everything will be better here," said 38-year-old maid Juciara Mazelo. "The government will have to do everything it's promising to do, and things can only improve. I think we would have more jobs, less poor people, less violence on the streets."More than 100,000 people are expected to pack Copacabana beach Friday to support Rio, which is competing against Chicago, Madrid and Tokyo, as it makes its presentation to the International Olympic Committee in Copenhagen.Rio is trying to become the first South American city to host the games. It tried to host the Olympics three times before — in 1936, 2004 and 2012 — but never made the final stages."We need this, we really do," said 30-year-old nurse Soledade da Silva. "Things need to change around here, and I think they would if we win the Olympics. With all the construction, the investment, I think it would be easier to find jobs."A huge Carnival-like celebration is planned if Rio wins, in part because the Cariocas know they likely will be able to count on billions of dollars in potential investment that the prestigious event can bring to the city.Brazilian officials are promising significant improvements on infrastructure, transportation, security and other areas if the city is awarded the games.The IOC evaluation committee praised Rio in a report last month, saying the city sees the games as an opportunity to use sport as a "catalyst for social integration" and to leave "a lasting and affordable legacy."Brazil President Lui

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