Historical stages

The natural beauty of Rio de Janeiro is not the only attraction that makes the city known the world over. During the 2016 Games, athletes will have the chance of competing in two of the country’s most famous tourist sites: the Maracanã Stadium and the Sambadrome, which stand out when the subject is the thrills of football and the joys of carnival.

Both facilities are part of the Maracanã region, located in Rio de Janeiro’s North Zone, near the City Centre. The region also houses the city’s Port, which is part of one of the main revitalisation projects being developed. The area will be an investment priority for the federal and municipal governments.

In addition to the Maracanã and the Sambadrome, the region will also host competitions at the Maracanazinho Gymnasium and the João Havelange Olympic Stadium, popularly known as “Engenhão” and located in the Engenho de Dentro neighbourhood.

João Havelange Olympic Stadium - Engenhão

The stadium was built for the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio and will have its capacity increased from 45,000 to 60,000 people (with 15,000 temporary seats) for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. In addition, the stadium's surrounding areas will undergo big urban interventions to facilitate its operation.

Including the Olympic Stadium, the Games are already bringing benefits for the Engenho de Dentro region. The stadium's surrounding area has been revamped and the Praça do Trem (Train Square) will recover the old railway warehouses by the stadium, that had been abandoned.

The reurbanisation process of the stadium’s surrounding area includes the already finished 3.7 kilometres of new rainwater galleries, built in essential access roads to the venue. The idea behind this endeavour was to eliminate critical flooding points. In addition, approximately 34 roads in the stadium's surrounding area were reurbanised and the old railway warehouse, that were used as workshops and are publicly listed, will be restored. Furthermore, a big area where the so-called Praça do Trem will be found is being renovated.

Expected delivery date: first semester 2016
Type of facilities: permanent
Sports at the Olympic Games: athletics and football
Sports at the Paralympic Games: athletics
Capacity: 60,000 people (15,000 temporary seats)
Funding organisation: City Hall
Amount: R$33,5 million
Organisation in charge of delivery: City Hall
Legacy: the Olympic Stadium belongs to the Rio de Janeiro City Hall and will continue to be used as Brazil’s main athletics stage for big competitions. The stadium is currently under lease with Botafogo (football club), which ensures its maintenance and use of the venue. Reurbanisation projects for the stadium’s surrounding area are part of a joint initiative by the federal and municipal governments, which has the aim of recovering the Engenho de Dentro region.
Test events: Ibero-american Championships - 13-15 may, 2016 / CPB Paralympic International Open - 17-21 may, 2016

Maracanã Stadium

Stage of the 1950 World Cup final, the mystical arena was refurbished for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. On 13 July, it was the stage of the World Cup final between Germany and Argentina, when the Germans were crowned champions of the world. The Maracanã will be the stage of the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. In addition, it will host football matches at the Olympic Games. However, the arena will not host any Paralympic competitions.

Sports at the Olympic Games: football
Sports at the Paralympic Games: there will be no competition at this venue
Capacity: 78,600 people
Legacy: the refurbishment of the Maracanã and its surrounding area is very important for Rio de Janeiro, as it improved the city’s sport facilities and sped up urban development in the region, considered to be a priority.

Maracanãzinho Gymnasium

Considered the home of Brazilian volleyball, the venue is located in the Maracanã Nucleus, which also includes the Maracanã Stadium and the Julio de Lamare Aquatic Park. A big renovation project was put in practice for the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio. For the Rio 2016 Games, warm-up courts will be built at the gymnasium.

Expected delivery date: to be established
Type of facilities: permanent
Sports at the Olympic Games: volleyball
Sports at the Paralympic Games: there will be no competition at this venue
Capacity: 11,800 people
Funding organisation: Local Organising Committee of Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games
Amount: to be established
Test event: FIVB 2015 World League Finals 14-19 july, 2015

Sambadrome

The Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro is the stage of the samba school parade at carnival. At the Olympic and Paralympic Games it will play host to the archery qualifiers and finals, and the marathon. Very close to the Maracanã, the venue will undergo renovation for the Games. For the marathon, 30,000 spectators will take their place along the 600 metres of the ‘samba promenade’, ensuring a festive atmosphere at the start and finish of the one of the most traditional Olympic events.

Type of facilities: permanent
Sports at the Olympic Games: athletics (marathon) and archery
Sports at the Paralympic Games: archery
Capacity: 18,000 people for athletics (marathon), 3,800 (archery)
Funding organisation: City Hall/Private
Amount: R$ 65 million (renovation and repair of foundations and new stands)
Organisation in charge of delivery: municipal government (foundations)/private (stands)
Legacy: the renovation of the Sambadrome is an important legacy project by Rio de Janeiro City Hall, allowing for this important landmark in the city to be improved and securing the revamping of its surrounding area. The Rio 2016 Games project is in line with long term goals for this region in the city, bringing important and immediate benefits to the local communities.
Test event: Aquece Rio International Archery Challenge - 15-22 september, 2015