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by Infogram
Create infographics

Rio 2016 : 40 Interactive guides to explore

Data visualizations, multimedia specials and long-form narratives about one of the most controversial Olympics in recent decades

August 5, 2016

In just a few hours, the 2016 Summer Olympic Games will officially begin. Although some events have been underway since yesterday, the inaugural ceremony at the Maracanã stadium marks the opening of the Rio de Janeiro’s Games. Amidst controversies, political instability and some fears (ranging from mosquito bites to terrorist attacks), this edition of the Olympics is, above all, an edition of records: number of countries, number of sports – and the first to be held entirely during the host country’s winter season.

More than 11 thousand athletes will be showcasing their skills in 28 Olympic sports — including rugby sevens and golf, which were added by the International Olympic Committee in 2009. These sporting events are distributed throughout 33 venues in Rio and 5 venues in São Paulo, Belo Horizonte, Salvador, Brasília and Manaus.

We sincerely hope that this event becomes a memorable celebration of the values of sports, in a moment when so many tragic things have been happening around the world. And similarly to what we did in the 2012 London Olympics, we are sharing in this post a first round up of interactive graphics, visualizations, multimedia specials and long-form narratives about Rio 2016. They cover pretty much all the afore mentioned aspects of the event, and were developed not only by some of the main newsrooms in the world, but also by other organizations, specially humanitarian ones, trying to bring to light the many problems Rio’s citizens face in their daily lives.

Let’s start with the picks from the host country, where the popular sports website Globoesporte.com (and a regular presence in the lists of Malofiej winners in the online categories) was particularly prolific. Brazil’s major newspapers, Folha de São Paulo, O Globo and Estado de São Paulo also put together interesting features, although perhaps not as many as one would expect, when you look at the uniqueness of the moment.

The technology in the Rio 2016 Olympics | Galileu

Partial screen capture of the interactive infographic The technology in the Rio 2016 Olympics
(image: Galileu)

The Olympic torches | O Globo

Partial screen capture of the interactive infographic The Olympic torches
(image: O Globo)

Crossfire: Shootings in Rio de Janeiro | Amnesty International

Partial screen capture of the interactive infographic Crossfire: Shootings in Rio de Janeiro
(image: Amnesty International)

OBSERVATÓR!O2016 | VISGRAF Lab/IMPA

Partial screen capture of the interactive infographic Observatorio 2016
(image: VISGRAF Lab/IMPA)

Guanabara Bay | Globoesporte.com

Partial screen capture of the interactive infographic Guanabara Bay
(image: Globoesporte.com)

Olympic Medals World Map | Globoesporte.com

Partial screen capture of the interactive infographic Olympic Medals World Map
(image: Globoesporte.com)

My Olympic Podium | Globoesporte.com

Partial screen capture of the interactive infographic My Olympic Podium
(image: Globoesporte.com)

Olympic sports – animation video series | Globoesporte.com

Partial screen capture of the interactive infographic Olympic sports - animation video series
(image: Globoesporte.com)

The weight of the Gold Medal in football | Globoesporte.com

Partial screen capture of the interactive infographic The weight of the Gold Medal in football
(image: Globoesporte.com)

Biotype of the Olympic Athletes | Globoesporte.com

Partial screen capture of the interactive infographic Biotype of the Olympic Athletes
(image: Globoesporte.com)

Mindset of a Champion | Globoesporte.com

Partial screen capture of the interactive infographic Mindset of a Champion
(image: Globoesporte.com)

Olympic mascots | Globoesporte.com

Partial screen capture of the interactive infographic Olympic mascots
(image: Globoesporte.com)

Rio 2016’s Olympic Torch | Globoesporte.com

Partial screen capture of the interactive infographic Rio 2016's Olympic Torch
(image: Globoesporte.com)

How to get to the Olympic venues | G1

Partial screen capture of the interactive infographic How to get to the Olympic venues
(image: G1)

Rio 2016: The Olympic legacy | Estado de S. Paulo

Partial screen capture of the interactive infographic Rio 2016: The Olympic legacy
(image: Estado de S. Paulo)

Rio 2016: Guide for the Olympic tourist | Estado de S. Paulo

Partial screen capture of the interactive infographic Rio 2016: Guide for the Olympic tourist
(image: Estado de S. Paulo)

The 4G challenge in Rio 2016 | Estado de S. Paulo

Partial screen capture of the interactive infographic The 4G challenge in Rio 2016
(image: Estado de S. Paulo)

My Olympic moment (series) | Folha de S. Paulo

Partial screen capture of the interactive infographic My Olympic moment
(image: Folha de S. Paulo)

What Sport is this? (series) | Folha de S. Paulo

Partial screen capture of the interactive infographic What Sport is this? (series)
(image: Folha de S. Paulo)

The Rio 2016 Olympic medals | Folha de S. Paulo

Partial screen capture of the interactive infographic The Rio 2016 Olympic medals
(image: Folha de S. Paulo)

Inside the Games | CidadeOlimpica.rio

Partial screen capture of the interactive infographic Inside the Games
(image: CidadeOlimpica.rio)

 

English

Most major news websites are covering the Olympics, so you won’t have any trouble finding calendars and overviews of the venues, the athletes and so on. We open this section with a mention to the official website of the 2016 Olympic Games, and then move on to explore some of the work already published by outlets such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Guardian and The Wall Street Journal, alongside some independent projects as well.

Rio 2016 Official website

Partial screen capture of the Rio 2016 Official website
(image: Rio 2016 Official website)

Partial screen capture of the interactive infographic Rio 2016 Official website

Rio – Beyond the Map | Google Artys & Culture

Partial screen capture of the interactive infographic Rio - Beyond the Map
(image: Google)

Visualizing Rio 2016 | The Washington Post

Partial screen capture of the interactive infographic Raising Gold
(image: The Washington Post)
Partial screen capture of the interactive infographic Stronger. Faster. Longer. And higher
(image: The Washington Post)
Partial screen capture of the interactive infographic The Olympic City
(image: The Washington Post)
Partial screen capture of the interactive infographic How team USA dominates the Olympics
(image: The Washington Post)

The Olympics issue | The New York Times Magazine

Partial screen capture of the interactive infographic The Olympics issue
(image: The New York Times Magazine)

Who’s polluting Rio’s Bay | The New York Times Magazine

Partial screen capture of the interactive infographic Who's polluting Rio's Bay
(image: The New York Times Magazine)

Olympic bodies | The Wall Street Journal

Partial screen capture of the interactive infographic Olympic bodies
(image: The Wall Street Journal)

100 Olympians to watch at Rio 2016 | The Guardian

Partial screen capture of the interactive infographic 100 Olympians to watch at Rio 2016
(image: The Guardian)

How evictions have laid bare Rio’s real Olympic legacy | The Guardian

Partial screen capture of the interactive infographic How evictions have laid bare Rio’s real Olympic legacy
(image: The Guardian)

Great Sporting Moments in Olympic History | BBC

Partial screen capture of the interactive infographic Great Sporting Moments in Olympic History
(image: BBC)

Do you have the mentality of an Olympian? | BBC

Partial screen capture of the interactive infographic Do you have the mentality of an Olympian
(image: BBC)

Ready or Not, Let the Games Begin | Esri

Partial screen capture of the interactive infographic Ready or Not, Let the Games Begin
(image: Esri)

The Summer Olympics: What It Takes, Who’s on Top and Who’s Competing | NBC

Partial screen capture of the interactive infographic The Summer Olympics: What It Takes, Who's on Top and Who's Competing
(image: NBC)

 

We also picked a couple of data visualizations created with Tableau Public, among the great examples featured in the Viz of the Day gallery.

Olympic Games Candidates | Jade Le Van

Partial screen capture of the interactive infographic Olympic Games Candidates
(image: Jade Le Van)

History of the Summer Olympics | Alexandria Duke

Partial screen capture of the interactive infographic History of the Summer Olympics
(image: Alexandria Duke)

Michael Phelps – King of the Pool | Rody Zakovich

Partial screen capture of the interactive infographic Michael Phelps - King of the Pool
(image: Rody Zakovich)

 

Other languages

Featuring graphics from the French data visualization powerhouse publication, Le Monde, and from Spain’s main sports newspaper, Marca. Here too we thought the number of compelling projects drop quite a bit, comparing with the previous edition. But again, with so many breaking news stories in recent months, plus the financial crisis in the news industry that led to so many layoffs, it’s really hard to ask for more from graphics desks – specially when the editorial decision isn’t theirs.

5000 events in 120 years of Olympic Games | Le Monde

Partial screen capture of the interactive infographic 5000 events in 120 years of Olympic Games
(image: Le Monde)

10 information that you haven’t (yet) on the French delegation | Le Monde

Partial screen capture of the interactive infographic 10 information that you haven't (yet) on the French delegation
(image: Le Monde)

From Rio to Athens: 120 years of Olympic Games | ShopAlike

Partial screen capture of the interactive infographic From Rio to Athens: 120 years of Olympic Games
(image: ShopAlike)

Olympic sports visual encyclopedia | Marca

Partial screen capture of the interactive infographic Olympic sports visual encyclopedia
(image: Marca)

 

As usual, this is not supposed to be an ‘ultimate selection’, and we always like to think that we left out some amazing works. It’s quite natural that we make a follow-up post, after the Games, so feel free to drop us your suggestions on Twitter or the comment box below.

Written by Tiago Veloso

Tiago Veloso is the founder and editor of Visualoop and Visualoop Brasil . He is Portuguese, currently based in Bonito, Brazil.

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