BRAZIL: Rio de Janeiro's Carnival takes on a sporty look ahead of the Pan American Games in July.

As Rio de Janeiro gears up for the Carnival season, one of Brazil's most famous samba schools is preparing a fleet of floats themed on the Pan American Games which will be held in Rio in July. It's carnival season in Brazil and across the nation, samba schools and revellers are gearing up for the party of the year. One samba school is taking sports as its theme this year as Rio prepares to play host to the Pan American Games and also makes a push to be an Olympic host city in 2016. The Portela Samba group, one of 13 competing for the champion's title in Brazil's most famous parade, received financial aid from the government in order to promote the country's candidacy for the 2016 Olympic Games. In their theme song the group tells the history of the Olympic Games and refers to the challenges athletes must face to become winners. Portela's director Cahe Rodrigues, one of the song's authors, said the school's parade is not only a tribute to the athletes, but also to Rio de Janeiro which won the fight to host the Pan-American games. "The two Olympus, the Greek and the Portela, formed by its myths will gather to light the flame of victory. What victory is that? Portela's victory in being able to write this theme song and win with this song, the athlete's victory who competes even without winning a medal and is a winner by overcoming challenges and the victory of Rio de Janeiro to host the Pan-American Games," he said. Taking advantage of Rio's position as the host of this year's Pan-American Games, the school invited various athletes to participate in the parade. Among those who will climb on the floats dedicated to the July games are the famous gymnasts Diego and Danielle Hypolito as well as the marathon runners Robson Caetano and Marcia Narloc. Brazil's Sports Department saw a good opportunity in the Carnival to promote Pan-American games throughout the country, since all parades are broadcast live on a national network. Rodrigues said that the president of the Brazilian Olympic Committee, Carlos Arthur Nuzman, decided to finance part of Portela's parade after he learned about their theme. "When he (Carlos Arthur Nuzman, president of the Brazilian Olympic Committee) understood that the theme song was related to the history of sports and the Pan (Pan-American Games) he (Nuzman) said: "I support it and not only will support, as I will also bring IOC's (International Olympic Committee) support too," he said. Portela promised a lively parade with lavish floats and thousands of bright costumes that according to Rodrigues will certainly put them among the winners. According to Rodrigues various elements of Portela's parade will travel across the Atlantic to be exhibited in the IOC (International Olympic Committee) museum in Monaco. "All of Portela's parade will go to the IOC (International Olympic Committee) museum," he said. Samba schools use forklifts and metal baskets to put dancers on tiny pedestals that sprout upwards from tall floats. Thin columns of decorated scaffolding support the pedestals, which shake wildly as dancers gyrate to thundering drums. Carnival, which draws on pagan and Christian heritage, is celebrated in other parts of Latin America and the Caribbean, but Brazil's is the most raucous and a huge magnet for tourists.

ITN Source | February 10, 2007

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