FOUR months after the Olympics ended, what benefit has the 2016 Games had for their host country? The locals danced in Copacabana when the news broke in 2009 that Rio de Janeiro had finally succeeded in its bid to become the first South American city to host the Olympic Games.

Last weekend’s Réveillon, or New Year’s Eve party on the same beaches attracted similar crowds, although with a surplus of rooms, after additional hotels were built for the Olympics, occupancy levels were 85% compared to 98% the previous year.