Rio's Sambadrome to be made larger for Olympics

Dec 14, 2010, 18:20 GMT

Rio de Janeiro - Rio de Janeiro's Sambadrome, the world- famous venue of the city's trademark Carnival parades, is to be made larger to seat an additional 15,000 people for the 2016 Olympics.

The Sambadrome - designed by Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer, who was awarded the prestigious Pritzker Architecture Prize in 1988 - opened in 1984 with a capacity for 60,000 spectators.

Once the changes are made it is set to host Olympic archery events and the start of the marathon in Rio 2016.

'This is a present for Rio,' Mayor Eduardo Paes said as he unveiled the plans Tuesday.

Paes said enlarging the compound would cost about 18 million dollars, with the work likely to begin after the 2011 Carnival. The 15,000 new seats were to be built in a former soft drinks manufacturing facility and would be paid for by the company that owns the factory.

'The city of Rio is moving forward to launch all it promised the International Olympic Committee for the Games. And that without spending a cent of public money,' Paes said.

The mayor noted that the changes would include increased access for the handicapped, a security room and spaces for doctors.

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