John Kyrle High School pupil, Ralph Verney, feels very privileged to have been able to visit Rio De Janeiro and to witness the world’s first ever South American Olympic Games.

Ralph was very impressed by the Olympic events and the beautiful country of Brazil, but also by the attitude of the people who, despite living in difficult conditions, look to the future.

Ralph knew that the spectacular games of London in 2012, would be a tough act to follow, but, he told the Ross Gazette: “They did manage to pull it off. Some, if not most, of the structures that were built, were incredible. In particular the white water rafting course, which I was lucky enough to go and see. The stadium had a beautiful view overlooking the whole of Deodoro, which was where a lot of the events were situated in Brazil.”

However, he was shocked by the poverty he witnessed. He said: “Looking left from Copacabana out of my window, I saw people carrying cardboard, which I later learned was their beds. I saw people outside the food shops just sitting there, with crying children, just begging for something to eat.”

During the Olympics there were protests around the country that the money spent on the Games could have been put to better use. 50% of people in Rio De Janeiro do not have access to running water, and healthcare is not satisfactory.

However he noticed that in Brazil people are willing to talk to strangers and in Rio, roughly 90% of people speak good English. Ralph said that is unlike here in England where most people very rarely speak another language fluently.

Ralph saw many amazing sights in Brazil, such as Christ the Redeemer, and feels more people should visit Brazil as they could learn a lot. He said that the John Kyrle School motto is ‘Carpe Diem’ - seize the day. In Brazil there is a sense that people are striving to make things better. Ralph said despite all the poverty, gun crime and violence, there is a light at the end of the tunnel for this amazing country.