AttitudeLive - Rio! City of Contrast

Rio de Janeiro – a vibrant city of sporting, artistic and cultural flavour, is gearing up to host the 2016 Paralympic Games. From samba queens and athletes to a photographer from the favelas… we’re invited into the heart of the city to get a taste of what it’s really like to live with a disability in Rio.

Rio de Janeiro is hosting
the 2016 Paralympics.

This is a city of wealth
and poverty.

Famed for football and
plastic surgery.

We're here to meet the people,

Samba dancers, a television
presenter, Paralympians,

a lawyer and an
ex gang member.

And to find out what it's like
to live with a disability

in one of the most beautiful
cities in the world.

At Samba City the carnival floats
and costumes are all top secret.

But we were allowed to film one of
the most famous dancers in Rio.

These are the
Ambassadors of Joy.

They're are the world's first and only
Samba school for people with disabilities

For the last two years the 1,800
members of this group

have led the carnival into the
Samba Drome.

The Ambassadors are famous
throughout Rio.

Vivianne is the lead dancer.

Frenanda has been a reporter on Program Special for the last 8 years.

Frenanada also holds the prestigious
role of Drum Section Queen

for the Ambassadors of Joy.

The 2016 Olympics and Paralympics

will be the first to take place
in Latin America.

Over half a million visitors
are expected.

Most events are being held
in an affluent district

an hour's drive to the
south of Rio.

When Carlos was a teenager
he traveled to Europe

with only 40 dollars and
a soccer ball.

He performed soccer tricks
on the streets of Zurich.

Saving enough money to come back
and start his own transport company.

Favelas are the ghetto areas

home to over 11 million
people in Brazil.

First built by ex slaves
in the 19th century

they're often run by
drug gangs.

Carlos comes from a
poor family

but is lateral thinking
and hard work

has kept him from a
life in the favela.

At 22 he was shot in the back
in a robbery gone wrong.

He was left paralysed.

He survives on a small pension and
what little he earns from photography.

At the same time he's putting his
youngest brother through school.

He can sometimes sit here for
three hours before someone passes

that can lift him
into his house.

His photographs have been shown
in national and international exhibitions

as well as appearing in magazines,
newspapers and books.

Deborah became blind after taking
drugs for a pneumonia type condition.

She continued to work from home
until two years ago

when all of Brazil's legal
paperwork shifted online.

With no accessibility for
her screen reader

she hasn't been able
to work since

and is now studying
Human Rights Law.

Ten thousand Brazilians play football
professionally around the world.

These players are all blind.

They're vying for a spot on next
year's Paralympics Team.

Blind football is five aside,

everyone except the goalie must
have a visual impairment.

They wear a mask to even
the playing field.

The ball has a bell inside so
players can hear where it is.

The manager stands behind the goal
giving cues to the athletes.