By Sebastian Smith, Madeleine PradelIt wasn't the welcome those arriving at Rio de Janeiro's main airport would have hoped for - police holding up banners that read "Welcome to Hell". In addition to violence and the effects of a bruising recession, preparations for the Rio Olympics have been plagued by Brazil's political instability and a series of corruption scandals. Police and firefighters don't get paid, whoever comes to Rio de Janeiro will not be safe." "It's not the best welcome we could get from Rio de Janeiro, which has the reputation of being such a wonderful city," he said. "This is the most serious issue in Rio and the state is doing a terrible, horrible job," he told CNN.

Source: New Zealand Herald July 05, 2016 03:44 UTC