FRAMINGHAM — As Rio de Janeiro readied itself for the Olympic Games opening ceremonies, the vast Brazilian diaspora nearly 5,000 miles away wasn’t sure how to feel.

“It has two sides, you know?’’ said Fabiano Aguiar, who grew up in Sao Paulo and moved to Framingham in 1998. “A lot of people are excited, but a lot of people are worried.’’

He’s a big sports fan, he was saying as the television in his mobile phone store broadcast the first men’s soccer game of the Olympics, Brazil versus South Africa. But the blockbuster event, he said, is distracting the country from its real problems.

“They’re masquerading everything,’’ the 36-year-old said. “I feel for the country, I feel for the people there.’’

He’s not anti-Olympic, he said, but for a country embroiled in political and economic strife, now is not the time to host the world’s premiere sporting event.

In the seven years since the International Olympic Committee awarded Rio de Janeiro the Games, the country’s once-booming economy has tanked and its embattled president faces impeachment proceedings.

Thiago Bruschi, who left Brazil 10 months ago for a state with one of the largest Brazilian communities in the nation, said the Olympics are simply another opportunity for government higher-ups to line their coffers.

“It’s just a farce to make more money and to make people richer,’’ he said. “I take no pride in it because I know it’s going to be a deception.’’

Bruschi, 34, said he came to Framingham to get away from the violence in his hometown, Belo Horizonte. For him, the Olympics symbolize everything he believes is wrong with his homeland.

“We have more important things to do,’’ he said. “There is a lot of corruption, a lot of crime, and there are people living on the streets.’’

And there is no ignoring this, said Julie Volk, who said she recently returned from a trip to Brazil.

“The reality is right in people’s faces,’’ she said, from behind the counter of Padaria Brasil Bakery.

But, she said, she hopes the Olympics can be a time for positivity, for Brazil to showcase its sunnier side.

“Truly, Brazil is an amazing country,’’ she said. “In every country, there are always problems with politics and poverty, but in general, it’s a beautiful country with beautiful people and I hope the Olympics brings that to light.’’

At the very least, she said, it should provide an opportunity for local Brazilians to celebrate.

“Framingham is kind of like Little Brazil,’’ she said. “Whenever there is an opportunity where we can come together as a culture and as a community, it’s always a great opportunity.’’

But if there are community gatherings or Olympics watch parties, Paula Lino said she wouldn’t be in attendance.

“I’m not going to say I’m not going to watch, but stop my life to see that?’’ she said, incredulously. “No.’’

Following the Games, she said, would be akin to endorsing them. And she doesn’t intend on doing that.

“They shouldn’t be having the Olympics there,’’ she said.

There is too much suffering — especially in Rio de Janeiro.

“It’s just ridiculous how they can spend money on the Olympics and people who live in Brazil don’t have health care or security,’’ Lino said. “But when it comes to the Olympics, they have money.’’

She, too, thinks the Games are a sham, carefully orchestrated to mask the discord there, she said.

“For one month, they pretend it’s the best place to live,’’ she said. “They’re faking it. And it’s sad that I have to say that about my country, because I love my country, but it’s not the world that you see on TV.’’

Louise Baptista said she sees both sides. Baptista, who is 19, runs a summer camp at the Brazilian-American Center and encourages the children who attend to retain their Brazilian identity, to continue speaking Portuguese.

“I feel a sense of pride for the Olympics to take place in my country,’’ she said.

Baptista was born in Rio de Janeiro but has spent the last 13 years in the United States.

The Olympics, she said, could be an opportunity for Brazilians the world over to come together — not to ignore the country’s problems, but to work together on solutions.

“We should always pay attention to the problems in our country,’’ she said. “But, hopefully, the Olympics can be something that makes us united.’’

Reis Thebault can be reached at reis.thebault@globe.com.