City of God

The Rocinha favela is one of the first and largest and still poorest favelas in Rio de Janeiro. A mere 1km from the affluent beach area of São Conrado, it houses an estimated population of 100,000 people, in an area a mere 2km in diameter, on an extremely steep mountain side of the Tijuca National Park, at the southern end of Rio, with partial views out over the Atlantic Ocean. As with most favelas, it's effectively controlled by drug traffickers, although there is also a police presence, if only for cosmetic purposes. And despite the poverty and cramped living conditions and high unemployment it's actually one of the safest parts of the city - as long as you know where you're going. How much do they care for the Olympics up there? Are they having any impact at all? Will they even be watching them? Ian O'Riordan visited on Monday evening to find out. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho