Sambódromo - Archery

Sambódromo - Archery

Location - Cidade Nova, Rio de Janeiro

Constructed - 1984

Renovated - 2012

Capacity - 90,000 (36,000 for the Archery events)

Architect - Oscar Niemeyer

Every year thousands of Samba students parade down this 2,300' (300m) stretch pavement during their annual Samba parade during Rio Carnival. This popular event attracts thousands of people to this massive outdoor parade venue, designed by world renowned architect Oscar Niemeyer.

Thousands gather to enjoy the party at the Sambódromo during Rio Carnival

A neo-futuristic brutalist , Oscar Niemeyer designed the venue using primarily concrete, which is repainted grey each year prior to the festival. The venue is built in the birth-place of Samba, and houses 115 classrooms under the bleachers dedicated to education including Samba classes. Niemeyer didn't cast aside his neo-futuristic designs when he completed the Sambódromo; a massive and beautiful futuristic sculpture serves as a background to the colorful and exotic costumes and props used in the parades.

Oscar Niemeyer's Centerpiece

In 2012, it was decided that the current stadium wouldn't be sufficient for the spectators for the popular archery events during the 2016 Summer Olympics. In a $10m renovation project (funded by a local brewery who was allowed to build offices behind the bleachers on the site) the seating capacity was increased from 70,000 to 90,000 and parts were reformatted dramatically increasing the sightlines and acoustics of the venue, making spectatorship at the parades (and Olympic Archery Event) more inclusive.

This photo provides perspective at how long and massive the venue is

The portion of the venue used for Olympic Archery

Do you have any questions about Sambódromo? Please feel free to ask in the comments!