Add the former sports minister resigning amid allegations of multi-million dollar kickbacks, and marines taking control of favelas or shanty towns in Rio de Janeiro with the support of tanks and helicopter gunships, and Brazil has certainly garnered some negative headlines around the world.The global image of Brazil has been very optimistic over the past few years, with the awarding of the World Cup and Olympics seen as a sign the country is ascending to the status of a major power.
However, the preparations for those two events have exposed some negative aspects of the country that were otherwise ignored by the international media. Not many countries have had to run military operations in urban areas before they could hold the World Cup.
Within the decade, Brazil will be judged on the results of the two events. If everything goes well, the controversy over the preparations will be mostly forgotten and it will be a big victory for the country's image. However, if things don't go well.... Brazil doesn't even want to consider that possibility.
