Rio 2016 Wheel is home to official opening of Rio de Janeiro Carnaval
Mayor Eduardo Paes acclaims the spirit of celebration and peace that takes hold of the city during the four days of festivities
The Rio 2016 Wheel was today the setting for the official opening of Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro. Mayor Eduardo Paes presented a key to the city to King Momo, Milton Júnior, at the Ferris wheel located at Fort Copacabana, which has the theme of Rio de Janeiros bid to host the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Rio de Janeiro is set to welcome around 750,000 Brazilian and international tourists for this years Carnaval. In Mayor Paes view, the festivities show the true spirit of the city. No other place welcomes visitors like Rio de Janeiro. Carnaval is the best party in the world in the best city in the world. There will be days of celebration and peace. It is with this same spirit that the city will receive visitors during the 2016 Olympic Games, said Paes, who rode on the Rio 2016 Wheel with King Momo, Carnaval Queen Jéssica Maia, and Carnaval Princesses Shayene Cesário and Charlene da Costa.
On 5 February, the Rio 2016 Wheel was home to a celebration of the completion of the Rio 2016 Bid Book, the document submitted to the International Olympic Committee by all candidate cities.
