Around 130,000 people visit Barra Olympic Park each day on their way to nine Rio 2016 competition venues hosting 16 sporting disciplines. Naturally enough, many of these visitors take the opportunity to get to know the vast complex and take photos to record their Olympic memories in between events.

With this in mind, Rio2016.com decided to get around the park’s 1.18 million square metres and choose the five best and most popular spots to take photos for your social media channels. Enjoy!

The Olympic rings

There are two options for this classic Olympic shot, given that both sets of rings are located on a bridge that provides a great view of the park. Queues tend to be long, but no one is bothered by the wait, least of all Silas and Larissa Leme from São Paulo. Suited and booted in Rio 2016 garb and full of Olympic spirit, the father and daughter did not allow the slightly inclement weather to stop them from getting their perfect snap in front of the Olympic symbol (see photo above).

“Everything (here) is just so beautiful. We go back next week, but on our first day we couldn’t leave without this photo,” said Silas.

Pole vault

Recreate your own pole-vaulting photo in the Olympic Park (Photo: Rio 2016/Miriam Jeske)

To pull off what the likes of Brazilian Fabiana Murer and other athletes manage to do in the pole vault takes years of dedication. But in the Olympic Park, it is possible to perfect the pose thanks to a structure in the same square as the Rio 2016 megastore. Result: profile pic gold!

Rio 2016 logo

Sudanese athlete Amna Tama takes an opportunity to record a memory of her own in the Olympic Park (Photo: Rio 2016/Miriam Jeske)

Inspired by the harmonious diversity and infectious energy of the Brazilian people and Rio’s exuberant nature, Rio 2016’s logo has been reproduced in the middle of the central square, opposite the Olympic Park’s megastore. Some visitors climb the structure to get their perfect pose, while others opt for the more traditional option of posing next to it. Naturally, there are queues here to take photos in such a popular spot – even athletes are getting involved, including Sudanese competitor Amna Tama.

“This is my second time at the Olympic Games and I wanted to come here to get some photos. The city and the park are beautiful,” the 800m runner said.

Broadcast tent

You can even become a sports presenter for the day (Photo: Rio 2016/Miriam Jeske)

Located behind the Aquatics Stadium, near the sponsors’ lounges, you can find a replica broadcast tent complete with an Olympic Channel newsdesk. Microphones are even on hand to heighten the realism. Luis Antonio de Castro and Laura Ferreira got into character and felt like real sports presenters.

“It was pretty cool, we managed to get a funny photo out of it too. I really felt like I was on television,” Luis said with a smile.

Flags and arenas

A family takes a photo in front of the flags and arenas in the Olympic Park (Photo: Rio 2016/Miriam Jeske)

On the bridge that links the two ends of the Olympic Park, next to the Olympic rings, there is another spot popular with punters armed with cameras and phones. From here, it is possible to see all the flags of the 205 countries taking part at Rio 2016, as well as the Carioca 2 and 3 arenas and the Velodrome. This is where Gilson Correa, Simone and Deivid Gonçalves got their snap in.

“The arenas are beautiful and you can even see all the flags,” said Deivid. “It’s a fascinating place.”

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