(16 Feb 1996) Portuguese/Nat
Carnival has got off to a soggy start in Rio de Janeiro after a week of torrential rain and flooding in southeastern Brazil.
Organisers of the four-day blow-out fear many people will cancel their trips to Rio for the carnival after mud slides and flooding left the city in chaos.
Carnival opened in traditional fashion in Rio's 70-thousand seat "Sambodrome" with King Momo being presented with the city key.
The city mayor, who would normally preside at this ceremony, was kept away dealing with widespread flooding across the city.
His place was taken by the head of Rio's tourist board.
Carnival promoters are confident the carnival will be as exuberant as ever this year -- despite the disastrous weather.
Flood and mudslides have killed more than 60 people and left ten-thousand homeless.
SOUNDBITE: (rough translation only)
"I feel happy, ecstatic. I am happy to be from Rio. I'm happy to be a representative of the Rio carnival. Happiness in the street!"
SUPER CAPTION: King Momo, real name Paulo Cesar Champoudry
Carnival normally attracts hundreds of thousands of people who boost city commerce to the tune of tens of millions of dollars.
SOUNDBITE: (rough translation only)
"Carnival is going to be pretty - for the entire world to see. Come to Rio. If you can't come this year, come next year. We have carnival all year through. This is the city of carnival. This is the city of happiness."
SUPER CAPTION: King Momo, real name Paulo Cesar Champoudry
Once the city key has been symbolically handed over to King Momo business comes to a standstill in Rio until next Ash Wednesday when Lent begins for Roman Catholics.
A few samba schools from some of Rio's poorer neighbourhoods were out on Thursday night to celebrate the start of carnival.
But the real action takes place over the weekend when the sambodrome is expected to be packed out for the spectacle of luxurious floats, sequins and ostrich plumes, bare breasted dancers and thundering music.
Find out more about AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
Twitter: [ Ссылка ]
Facebook: [ Ссылка ]
Instagram: [ Ссылка ]
You can license this story through AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
