Rio City Hall Announces Different Model for New Year’s Eve, Considers Online Celebration

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Rio’s City Hall announced on Saturday, July 25th, that the New Year’s Eve festivities in Rio will not take place “in the traditional model we know” with millions of people forming crowds, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and that it is considering a celebration “without the direct presence of the public, in an online model”.

The scientific committee is still to consider whether any public presence is feasible. Following the publication of a G-1 article, which reported on the event’s cancellation, the city government issued a note stating that it “has never released any information on the cancellation of the New Year’s Eve“.

In 2019, 2.9 million people attended the turn of the year celebration in Copacabana.

The announcement occurred one day after the São Paulo City Hall announced the postponement of the city’s 2021 Carnaval. In Rio, a number of samba schools also said it would be “unfeasible” to hold the Marquês de Sapucaí Carnival parades without a vaccine against Covid. The decision to present the top tier Grupo Especial schools in 2021 was postponed to September.

In a first note, the municipality said the traditional celebration “is unfeasible in this pandemic scenario without a vaccine”. In addition, the municipal government “continues to focus its efforts on saving lives and controlling the pandemic”.

Riotur reported that “New Year’s Eve is not a rigid event and it can be held in various ways, not just by gathering three million people on Copacabana Beach.” According to the tourism company, a new proposal to celebrate the New Year will be presented to Mayor Marcelo Crivella “in the coming days”.

The plan is to develop a project “without direct public presence, in an online model, where we can reach the public through TV and digital platforms.” Also, according to Riotur, the goal is to preserve “people’s safety as a priority”.

The new model, which is still to be introduced, has a financial viability 100 percent focused on private initiative. Riotur agrees that the current pandemic response scenario requires City Hall resources to be earmarked to fight the virus.

The New Year’s Eve celebration would begin to be developed in August, which means that there are no steps to be taken by the City Hall at this time as it is within its normal time frame.

What Riotur initially said:

“With regard to New Year’s Eve, the traditional model known and used in the city for years is not feasible in a pandemic scenario unless there is a vaccine. But it must be stressed that New Year’s Eve is not a rigid event and it can happen in many ways, not only by gathering three million people in Copacabana Beach.

“In the near future, Riotur will be presenting different possible formats to Mayor Marcelo Crivella for the turn of the year event, without the direct presence of the public, in an online model, where we can reach the public through TV and digital platforms, preserving people’s safety as a priority and also considering an atmosphere of reflection and hope in the face of so many losses suffered.

“We emphasize that all concepts developed and analyzed by Riotur have their financial viability focused 100 percent on private initiative, considering the current scenario where the Rio City Hall’s resources are earmarked to fight the pandemic. This model, with private partners investing in major events, is adopted by Riotur during Mayor Marcelo Crivella’s administration, prioritizing the investment of public money in basic issues such as healthcare and education.

“In line with the schedule of previous years, the New Year’s Eve celebration would start to be developed in August. This means that there are no steps to be taken by the City Hall at this time and we are within the normal time frame.

“Regarding Carnaval, the acting president of Riotur, Fabrício Villa Flor de Carvalho, has consistently taken part in online meetings with the president of LIESA (Independent League of Samba Schools of Rio de Janeiro), Jorge Castanheira, to address the issues surrounding the samba school parades at Marquês de Sapucaí.

“As a result of these discussions, Riotur complied with LIESA’s request and did not start selling tickets for the Sambadrome’s tourist sector. Riotur is now waiting, as formally requested by the association’s president, for the next LIESA meeting, which will determine the direction of the parades and notify Rio’s City Hall.

“As for the Street Carnaval, Riotur has been holding talks with the GAESP – the Prosecutor’s Office Specialized Action Group on Public Safety, a body that was active in building the event which, among other duties, was involved in creating the Protocol of Intent, which ensured improvements to the festivities.

“Therefore, in this inconclusive scenario, it is still inconceivable to discuss the definition of the Rio 2021 Carnaval, since the planning of this event is inherently complex and, in the current scenario, requires special care. The celebration gathers millions of people and, during the revelry period, there is intense traffic around the city, including an increase in the use of public transportation during a prolonged period of time.

To make decisions, we need an assessment of the whole situation, including the number of cases, the progress in treating the disease, prevention, and the development of a vaccine, targeting everyone’s safety at all times. Carnaval is a national holiday and involves other spheres, not only municipal, and is therefore a much broader discussion, which primarily involves the results of scientific studies.”

What the City Hall subsequently said:

“It is not true that Rio’s City Hall, through Riotur, has canceled the New Year’s Eve celebration in Rio. Riotur has never released any information about the cancellation of New Year’s Eve.

“According to a widely reported press release on Friday, July 24th, and Saturday, July 25th, Rio de Janeiro’s New Year’s Eve is maintained, but it will obviously be adjusted to the new pandemic scenario.

“We reiterate the announcement: in this scenario, where a vaccine is not yet available, Riotur is considering models for the transition from 2020 to 2021, which will soon be introduced to Mayor Marcelo Crivella and the scientific department.

“The development of this alternative model to the traditional New Year’s Eve is being regularly discussed with Alfredo Lopes, president of Rio Hotels and of the ABIH-RJ Deliberative Council. The format plans are based on discussions not only with Alfredo Lopes, but also with representatives of other sectors involved in the New Year’s Eve event. It is a joint project.

“Any decision on New Year’s Eve in Rio de Janeiro by the City Hall will be announced to the press.”

Source: G1