The greatest sporting event is visiting Rio this summer, and after the success of the London 2012 games, the upcoming Olympics has a lot to live up to.
Britain’s athletes will of course hold high hopes of echoing the medal haul from London four years ago, but what can they expect from Rio, the city famed for surfing, samba and carnivals.
It’s easy to forget that Rio only hosted the World Cup two years ago too – it’s certainly a great time for the party city.
From the beaches of the Copacabana to the forts and hills that surround the city, the region is preparing itself to welcome the best sportsmen and women that the world has to offer.
While a few golfers may have elected not to travel for fears of the Zika virus and Russian athletes remain under the clouds of a doping scandal, it should not overshadow what the Olympics is all about.
The Olympic Games in Rio officially kick-off on 5 August and a record number of countries are expected to take part. Among the new countries to feature will be athletes from South Sudan and Kosovo – they’ll be part of more than 10,500 entrants while 28 sports will be on show.
Golf and rugby sevens feature, having been added to the schedule by the International Olympic Committee in 2009. Events are due to take place at 33 venues across Rio, as well as five others in Sao Paulo, Salvador, Brasilia, Manaus and Belo Horizonte.
It is only the third time (and the first since Sydney in 2000) that the Olympics has been held in the Southern Hemisphere – brownie points if you know the other location! *(Answer at the end)
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The Barra Olympic Park can be found in the west of Rio and features nine different sporting venues. Carioca Arenas 1 and 2 will host basketball, wrestling and judo while Carioca Arena 3 will feature fencing and taekwondo.
The 12,000 capacity Future Arena will see the world’s best handball teams face off while diving, water polo and synchronized swimming will take place at the Maria Lenk Aquatics Centre.
Swimming will take place at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium and gymnastics at the Rio Olympic Arena, while the tennis centre and velodrome will host tennis and cycling respectively.
The opening and closing ceremonies will take place at the Maracana Stadium, which can hold nearly 75,000 spectators.
* If you’re still racking your brains wondering where the other Southern Hemisphere location was, we can tell you that it was in Melbourne, Australia, back in 1956.
It was a strange Olympics though, as Australian equine laws meant that equestrian events could not take place there. Instead they took place five and a half months earlier than the Olympics… in Stockholm, Sweden!
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