Let’s Go to Rio

In August, the world will look toward Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, as more than 10,000 athletes from 206 countries compete in the Games of the XXXI* Olympiad. To get ready, The Mini Page finds out more about the vibrant city that will be the first in South America to host the Olympic Games.

Brazil

Brazil is South America’s largest nation — and the fifth-largest country in the world by area. It also ranks fifth in population, with more than 200 million people. Its capital is Brasilia.

In 1500, Brazil was claimed as a colony by Portugal, a relatively small European nation famous for its explorers and sailors. As a result, Brazilians primarily speak Portuguese — not Spanish, as do most other South Americans.

Where is Rio?

Rio de Janeiro (REE-oh deh jheh-NAIR-oh) lies along the southeastern coast of South America. It is the second-largest city in Brazil, after São Paulo, with about 6.5 million people. Before Brasilia became the capital of Brazil in 1960, Rio de Janeiro (which means “January River”) was the capital.

* Do you know what the Roman numeral XXXI

means? X=10 and I=1. So XXXI is 31.

Rio’s people

Native Americans lived in Brazil for thousands of years before Europeans came in the 1500s. The Europeans brought enslaved African people with them. These three groups blended together, and today most Brazilians have ancestors from all three.

Today in Brazil, people work in agriculture, manufacturing, mining and service businesses. In rural areas, Brazilians grow sugarcane, soybeans and coffee. In cities, factories build aircraft, cars and car parts.

A Carnival of color

Rio de Janeiro’s biggest party is Carnival (car-neh-VAHL). Much like Mardi Gras in the U.S., Carnival is a big celebration leading up to Lent. (Lent is the time between Ash-Wednesday and Easter for followers of Christianity.)

School in Rio

A student in Rio de Janeiro might start his school day around 7 a.m. His mid-morning “lunch” could include rice, beans, meat with vegetables, a banana or other fruit and a salad. Because Brazilian schools are crowded and the climate is hot, school for some kids ends before noon. Others might attend an afternoon or evening session.

School begins in February and ends in early December. Kids get a two-week break in July. In elementary school, students study Portuguese, history, geography, science, math and physical education.

Soccer

Most kids in Rio like to play soccer, or

futebol. They play after school on school teams or with neighbors.

Other favorite sports in Brazil are volleyball, rugby, basketball and auto racing.

photo by Artyominc

People dress in colorful, showy costumes anddance the samba (SAHM-bah), a dance thatoriginated in Brazil, during Carnival. A paradeshows off floats made by different groups ofpeople called “samba schools.”

Brazil’s national team haswon the FIFA World Cupfive times, more than anyother team.