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The world-famous Carnival has officially begun in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro. Mayor Eduardo Paes handed over the keys to the city to King Momo on Friday, kicking off more than a week of festivities. “Carnival 2024 will be a great event, with the whole world watching Rio,” Paes said.
Source: BELGA
Yesterday at 9:12 PM
Dozens of carnival groups, the so-called blocos, will parade through the city’s neighborhoods in the coming days.
The best samba groups show their skills on the Sambodromo, a parade ground specially constructed for carnival. The Sambodromo, designed by Oscar Niemeyer, which covers a 700 meter long street, celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. There, tens of thousands of spectators watch the carnival from the stands, and millions more in Brazil and abroad follow on TV.
The city council estimates that the carnival generates a turnover of 5 billion reais (934 million euros). About seven million people travel to Rio to experience the carnival live.
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