Olympics give Rio slum kids hope - for survival For kids in one of Rio's toughest slums, the childhood dream of Olympic glory comes with extra motivation: a better chance to stay alive. Brazilian Olympic boxer Roberto Custodio grew up facing daily violence, including the murder of his father, in the Mare slum, or favela. And if it hadn't been for his transformation into a top athlete, he might have gone the same way. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES