Criticism Is the Real Winner of Rio's Olympic Games

For Brazil, Neymar’s game-winning penalty kick during the finals match of the men’s soccer tournament will surely be the enduring visual of the Rio 2016 Summer Games. It was good enough for gold and a triumph over Germany, whose team won the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil two years ago. The image of Neymar, sporting a “100% Jesus” headband and kissing his medal on the podium, was just the thing that Rio needed to get over the awful impression made by U.S. Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte.

For the world, the consequences of the Rio 2016 Summer Games have yet to truly register—Brazil included. As with other mega-events in recent years, criticism of the Rio Olympics mounted before the games began. That criticism will last long after the closing ceremonies. The true measure of the games will be in what change the Olympics brings, for better or for worse. Better scrutiny and greater transparency may be the silver lining of any modern Olympics, even if it comes too little, too late.