Post date: Feb 04, 2013 1:55:24 PM
It's lights, camera, action at Rio de Janeiro's Sambodrome as officials test the light and sound system ahead of Friday (February 8) carnival.
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL (FEBRUARY 03, 2013) (REUTERS) - With a week to go before the official start of the Rio de Janeiro carnival, preparations in the city are in full swing for one of the biggest celebrations in the world.
On Sunday (February 03) the technicians tested the Sambodrome stadium's light and sound system before thousands of revellers flood the venue next weekend.By the looks of the dancers and singers of the Unidos da Tijuca samba school, everything seemed in tip-top shape.
Miguel Carvalho da Silva, a tailor, will parade for Unidos da Tijuca, and on Sunday, at rehearsals, he was confident everything would go according to plan.
"It's marvellous, as always. It's my third year with Tijuca, and I have no complaints. It's wonderful to parade for it," he said.
Unidos da Tijuca won carnival's best samba school title last year, and this time around participants seem convinced the school can go all the way again.
"We're going to be champions again. It's ours this year," he said.
The Rio de Janeiro carnival is the city's postcard event which is expected to host an estimated 900,000 tourists this year.
In addition to the four days of celebrations at the Sambodrome, officials estimate that six million people will flood the streets of Rio to take part in the hundreds of street parties scattered throughout town during this month.
The Rio de Janeiro carnival runs from the 8th to the 12th of February.