Rio City Hall Expects to Host Nearly 500,000 People at Sambadrome

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Rio’s City Hall expects to welcome almost 500,000 people during the six-day parade at the Sambadrome, located on Marquês de Sapucaí in the city’s central region. The daily capacity is 70,000 people in the bleachers and booths. The floats begin to be moved in the early hours of Friday, February 21st.

The announcement was made by the Secretary of Healthy Aging, Quality of Life, and Events of Rio, Felipe Michel, in a press conference on February 19th, to speak about the operation of public bodies involved in Carnaval, such as the Rio Operations Center, the Municipal Departments of Transportation, Public Order, Health, Finance, Traffic Engineering Company (CET-Rio), Municipal Company of Urban Cleaning (COMLURB), Municipal Guard, and MetrôRio (Subway).

In addition to the Samba Avenue, there will be events at Intendente Magalhães, in the north zone, as well as in Terreirão do Samba and on 76 stages spread throughout the city, not to mention street blocks and megablocks.

According to the head of the Rio Operations Center, Alexandre Cardeman, there is greater concern in monitoring the surroundings of the Sambadrome and making the floats move. “It’s a very complex operation that extends as far as Ash Wednesday”. He also said offices will be set up to support Operation Carnaval and decision making at the Sambadrome by incorporating the various bodies.

The Municipal Health Secretariat will hold seven posts at Marquês de Sapucaí, with 32 beds, eight of which will be in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU). One hundred twenty-five health professionals will work at the Sambadrome and 15 ambulances will be used per day.

According to the Rio Operations Center, moderate to heavy rainfall is expected on Friday and Saturday, February 21st and 22nd, respectively. On Sunday, February 23rd, the forecast is for low to moderate rainfall. Taking raincoats, avoiding flooding areas and using public transportation to reach the Sambadrome is recommended.

Subway

The MetrôRio, as in years past, will have a special operating schedule during Carnaval. The trains will run uninterruptedly from 5 AM on Friday, February 21st, until 11:59 PM on Tuesday, February 25th. From 5 AM on Saturday until 11:59 PM on Tuesday, the Line 2 trains will travel directly between Pavuna Station and General Osorio Station, with no need for transfer at Estácio Station.

Source: Agência Brasil