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In another example of how Olympic and Paralympic Games are being produced with a Brazilian flavour, staff produce original samba composition and stage ‘bloco’ party
Rio 2016 staff celebrate Carnival with the Olympic rings
Text: Patricia Da Matta
Photos: Rio 2016/Alex Ferro
Among operational plans, venue openings and a packed calendar of test events, another kind of buzz has been running through the Rio 2016 headquarters in recent weeks. Inspired by the party atmosphere in the host city of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, a group of employees have used their lunch hours and stayed after work to organise Atocha e Não Pira, the Rio 2016 Carnival ‘bloco’ party. With an original samba composition and drums played by more than 20 members of staff, the first performance of the Rio 2016 group took place last Wednesday (27 January) at the nearby Estácio de Sá samba school.
Rio 2016 offers guide to speaking like a carioca ahead of Carnival
The idea arose following the end-of-year celebrations at the União da Ilha samba school. At the event, venue operations manager Igor Cavaco and five other colleagues decided to create a Carnival bloco to promote integration throughout the organising committee before the inevitable division of workers – when the venues are ready for competitions, employees will move to different the Games zones.
“We started going to União da Ilha rehearsals and we were recruiting people from the committee who knew how to play an instrument,” said Cavaco. “We used the characteristics of each member of the commission to make the bloco happen. Having trained as a journalist, I was responsible for spreading the word. Those who know how to organise events were planning rehearsals and presentations. Little by little, the idea began to gain momentum.”
The committee’s employees bought into the idea. One month later, the bloco was formed and venue management coordinator Rafael Carrarini set about composing an original samba score. “I’ve never done a samba in my life,” he said. “Igor encouraged me and from there it grew. In a short time, everybody knew how to sing it!”
The next performance will be in the Borel ‘favela’ community on Sunday 21 February during a event by non-governmental organisation Samaritan’s Feet, which collects donations of new shoes for children in need. And such was the success of the first bloco that the creators are considering making Atocha a Rio 2016 legacy.
“With the funds raised at the party we’re going to pay the studio for two rehearsals per month. Who knows, maybe we can transform our bloco into an annual meeting of the people that worked at Rio 2016,” said logistical specialist Karinna Vasconcellos.
Part of the Atocha e Não Pira samba
More than 500 Carnival blocos will take over the streets of Rio from 6 to 10 February. Meanwhile at the Sambódromo – the Rio 2016 venue for archery and the marathon finish – the glittering samba school parades will dazzle crowds of thousands between 5 and 8 February, with the champions’ parade on 13 February.
