Rio carnival attracts record 2.2 mln revellers February 20, 2012 - 16:09 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - One of Rio de Janeiro's oldest and most popular carnival street parties has attracted a record 2.2 million revellers, police say, according to BBC News. The Cordao da Bola Preta parade is famous for attracting a diverse crowd, spanning all ages. For the first time in its 93-year history, the event allowed electric sound systems and reversed its normal route. Police said that despite the large crowds, the event had been peaceful. Dressed as the cartoon character Asterix, Elson de Deus, 65, told Brazilian newspaper O Globo he had been attending the parade ever since he was 13. This year, he had taken his son along to the parade to continue the family tradition. Elizete Vieira, 77, said she had waited for four hours to secure her spot in the parade. Denisa Chagas told the AFP news agency she liked the Bola Preta parade because it "brings everybody together, people from all districts and neighbouring towns". Reflecting the name of Bola Preta, or Black Dot, many revellers wore clothes with black polka dots on a white background. Others dressed as their sports heroes or donned wigs and tutus. Some 400 street parties have been scheduled for the Rio carnival, but organisers say the Bola Preta parade, which daes back to 1918, is the most traditional.   Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads.   Partner news |  Latest news Armenia-Azerbaijan: Experts launch work on determining coordinates  Expert groups from the countries started the process of determining the coordinates based on geodetic measurements.Yerevan says did not expect CSTO in peacekeeping role Pashinyan has declared that the CSTO would be expected to come to the Armenia-Azerbaijan border as an ally of ArmeniaHenrikh Mkhitaryan wins Serie A title with Inter Inter Milan midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan admits that the team have long been imagining clinching Serie A against AC Milan.Armenia not going to war over Karabakh, says Pashinyan Armenia is not preparing to fight a war for Nagorno Karabakh, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said in an interview. |
