Olympics are here, and so is recession. Four years ago, the idea of hosting the Olympic Games seemed gloomier; now, Brazil hosts a global event while struggling to recover from one of its worst economic downturns in history. Rio is no better; bad financial management and fall in revenues hit the State pretty hard. To make it worse, an unprecedented corruption investigation and falling oil prices brought down the State’s most important industry and its needed royalties. However, not all is bad news. The Games meant opportunities for UK businesses, and the British House in Rio will celebrate the best of the UK, promoting a business agenda and bringing to Brazil a taste of what we have to offer in terms of excellence in sports, culture and business. Finally, pre Olympics positive social legacy in the city of Rio may translate into opportunities to UK on sustainability of improvements.