While America votes I'll think about happier things, football.
However, today it's not so happy. Rio de Janeiro is in financial dire straits. It would have been bankrupt if it wasn't for some emergency government funding just before hosting the Olympics in August. But that is over, the Olympics and the financial assistance, and the city has not had enough money to pay its' employees for a number of months. Fifa and the IOC maintain that hosting World Cups and Olympics help with the infrastructural and economic development of those host cities. Why don't Fifa and the IOC now contribute some of the billions of dollars of revenue from their marquee events to help a city which has been bankrupted, partly, by hosting a World Cup and Olympics.
In happier news one of the highlights of the upcoming round of World Cup qualifiers is Brazil v Argentina. It's always a big one for both countries but is especially important for Argentina this time. Brazil have won four qualifiers in a row since the appointment of their new manager, Tite, and are top of the qualifying group. Argentina are sixth and out of even the playoff spot. They desperately need points. A win in Brazil would be more than just a bragging rights victory over their bitter rivals. They need wins and will soon be running out of matches to get those wins.
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