The international journalistic coverage of the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games: analysis by media framing

Abstract

Brazil’s decade of mega sporting events, which ended in 2016, presented a series of unexpected difficulties. The country hosted the events with the goal of changing its international status. This article aims to identify the effects of the Olympic Games of Rio de Janeiro on Brazil’s international image through an analysis of articles that were published during the event in nine international media vehicles. Methodologically, this article makes use of media framing to develop five categories: Political and Economic Situation, Unequal Brazil, Culture and Tourism, Event Organization and Urban improvements, and Mediatic Pleonasm or Lochte Affair. It can be concluded that during the Olympic Games, while the news coverage centred around the host city, the scope of reports was limited and themes were replicated across newspapers, and the domestic situation influenced the media source’s depiction of the host country.

Keywords:

• Brazil
• international relations
• media framing
• Olympic Games
• sports mega-events

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p042wl60

2 https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/swimming-green-water-pool-olympics-rio/index.html

3 In order to facilitate the comprehension of the articles, all quotes were translated into Englishby the authors.

4 https://elpais.com/deportes/2016/08/06/actualidad/1470514077_713379.html

5 https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/reuters/article-3753834/Olympics-Brazil-didnt-mess-Games-nor-did-make-them.html

6 https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/aug/21/um-mundo-novo-the-olympic-rings-leave-rio-rustier-but-brighter

7 https://www.elmundo.es/opinion/2016/08/22/57b9ee24ca4741373b8b45e9.html

8 https://www.lemonde.fr/jeux-olympiques-rio-2016/article/2016/08/09/jo-2016-a-rio-tous-les-stades-ne-font-pas-le-plein_4980079_4910444.html

9 https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/aug/13/the-athletics-elite-turns-up-on-time-but-rio-seems-still-to-be-in-bed

10 https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3740384/Rio-2016-Australian-Olympic-athletes-BANNED-Rio-beaches-dark-following-USA-swimmer-Ryan-Lochte-s-terrifying-armed-robbery.html

11 https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/15/sports/olympics/ryan-lochte-and-three-teammates-robbed-at-gunpoint.html

12 https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/21/sports/olympics/ryan-lochte-robbery-story-nbc.html

13 https://www.cnn.com/2016/08/18/opinions/lochte-investigation-overshadowing-games-bass/index.html

14 https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/reuters/article-3724397/WIDER-IMAGE-Rios-informal-foods-key-Carioca-life.html

15 https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/14/sports/olympics/rio-games-biscoito-globo.html

16 https://www.lemonde.fr/jeux-olympiques-rio-2016/article/2016/08/19/jo-2016-le-biscoito-de-la-discorde_4984910_4910444.html

17 https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/aug/05/olympic-opening-ceremony-rio-2016-fernando-meirelles

18 https://www.elmundo.es/deportes/2016/08/06/57a5397eca4741a6118b45f3.html

19 https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3726492/This-country-lecturing-climate-change-Brazil-attempts-teach-world-lesson-despite-horribly-polluted-water-deforestation-Amazon.html

20 https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/10/arts/music/the-girl-from-ipanema-goes-walking-again-with-gisele-bundchens-help.html

21 https://elpais.com/deportes/2016/08/06/album/1470444439_714382.html

22 http://www.lefigaro.fr/conjoncture/2016/08/04/20002-20160804ARTFIG00257-un-bresil-en-crise-politique-institutionnelle-et-economique-accueille-la-planete.php

23 https://www.bbc.com/news/av/business-36979065/rio-2016-will-the-olympics-be-worth-it-for-brazil

24 https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/07/sports/olympics/rio-2016-games-theres-no-turning-back-now.html

25 https://www.elmundo.es/deportes/2016/08/12/57ace8d922601df90b8b45c1.html

26 https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/08/18/sports/olympics/rio-favela-home-photos.html

27 https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3726566/Rios-poor-watch-Olympic-opening-rooftops-slum.html

28 http://video.lefigaro.fr/figaro/video/jardim-gramacho-favela-la-plus-desheritee-de-rio-et-oubliee-des-jo/5090288158001/

29 https://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-3739821/Airbnb-listings-Rio-Janeiro-s-favelas.html

30 https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/37024492

31 https://www.cnn.com/videos/world/2016/08/10/favela-raised-gold-medalist-rafaela-silva-shasta-darlington.cnn

32 https://www.elmundo.es/deportes/2016/08/08/57a7b24d468aeb99208b458e.html

33 https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/othersports/article-3739301/Brazil-s-Olympic-golden-girl-Rafaela-Silva-brings-hope-lost-generation.html

34 https://www.lemonde.fr/jeux-olympiques-rio-2016/article/2016/08/17/jo-2016-barra-da-tijuca-le-nouveau-rio_4983988_4910444.html

35 https://www.lemonde.fr/jeux-olympiques-rio-2016/article/2016/08/17/jo-2016-nounous-a-la-plage_4983843_4910444.html