In the run up to the games, the Olympic mood hasn’t yet picked up in Rio de Janeiro.

Brazilians have a lot in their heads with the country’s economic and political crises. And the citizens of Rio are yet to feel the benefits of all the preparations for the event.

CCTV America’s Paulo Cabral reports from Rio.

In the run up to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil many people took to the streets to protest against the money would be spent in the event.

There hasn’t been this kind of reaction against the 2016 Olympics in the streets of Rio de Janeiro but there’s not much excitement about it either.

Tickets sales have been slower than organizers expected but the president of the Brazilian Olympic Committee expects last minute purchases.

The political scientist said most people here are not against the Olympics, but indifferent to it.

A few weeks before the Olympics, the mayor of Rio took the media for a tour of a soon to be finished new road with a dedicated bus lane, connecting key Olympic venues.

It crosses 26 kilometers (16 miles) of the poor western suburbs of the city. But during the event, only officials, athletes and games’ ticket holders will be allowed to access.

On the new metro line, work was non-stop in the days leading to the Olympics as it will open to the public on the same day of the opening of the games. But also only those connected to the event will have access to the system during the games.

There’s hope that as the Olympics begin excitement will pick up in Rio as it happened in the World Cup. But the long term judgment people will pass on this event will depend on the impact of its legacy for those who live there.

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Dong Jun on 2016 Rio Olympics

For more information on 2016 Rio Olympics as the games begin this Friday, CCTV America’s Asieh Namdar interviewed Dong Jun, 2008 Beijing Olympic Official Commentator.