Half of Brazilians opposed to hosting Olympics just weeks before event - poll

A Brazilian Army Forces soldier patrols on Copacabana beach ahead of the 2016 Rio Olympic games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, July 18, 2016. REUTERS/Ricardo Moraes

RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Half of Brazilians have said they are opposed to hosting the Olympics that begin in less than three weeks amid deepening concern over the high cost of the games, according to a poll published on Tuesday.

That is double the percentage who said they were opposed to Rio's hosting of the games when the same poll was taken in 2013.