– Olympic level fun –
Rio will become South America’s first city to host the Summer Olympics this August and the Carnival looked forward to the event at its opening ceremony with a huge model of the Olympic torch.
The Uniao da Ilha school took the Olympic theme for its parade, with Greek gods, gyrating judo fighters, men on bicycles suspended in the air. There was even a nod to the Paralympics with a dancing and singing wheelchair contingent.
Certainly if organizing parties was an Olympic sport, Brazil’s Carnival would sweep the podium.
Samba schools spend as much as $3 million on productions that take nearly the whole previous year to prepare, then just an hour to perform. And although nearly the entire cast is unpaid, the choreography would make Broadway jealous.
This year, hard economic times have hurt the Carnival industry, denting sponsorship and raising the prices of imported fabrics used to make costumes. In 48 Brazilian cities, the Carnival was cancelled altogether.
But Lucas Fernandes, a 17-year-old drummer, said he lived for this chance to parade in the Sambadrome.
“The Rio de Janeiro Carnival is something magical,” said Fernandes, who practiced twice a week for 10 months to be ready. “Although Brazil is a country with problems, the Carnival brings us happiness.”
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