Location:
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Opening:
Home team:
Brazil national team, Flamengo, Fluminense
Field dimensions:
Capacity:
The once largest stadium in the world is located in the most beautiful of its corners. “Maracana” is covered in legends; it is a kind of Mecca of football.
The emergence of the Maracana and the 1950 World Cup
The first post-war World Cup went to Brazil almost without alternative, because FIFA promised the Brazilians a tournament of this level even before World War II. In addition, the country's bid was supported by the intention to build the world's largest stadium with 200,000 seats in the capital of Brazil.
A project of such a colossus was criticized by some local officials, but was nevertheless implemented. Journalist and writer Mario Filho, whose name will forever go down in the history of the stadium, contributed a lot to this.
Mario Filho was an ardent football fan, supported Fluminense and after his death in 1966 the stadium was renamed in his honor. So officially “Maracana” is called Estádio Jornalista Mário Filho.
The architects of the project were Rafael Galvao, Pedro Bastos, Orlando Azevedo, António Carneiro, Miguel Feldman, Valdir Ramos and Oscar Valdetaru.
Construction began less than two years before the start of the World Cup - on August 2, 1948. The location was chosen near historical center cities.
The name of the stadium was given by the name of the river flowing here, and the stadium itself later gave the name to the whole region of Rio. Interestingly, the word “maracana” itself comes from the language of the Indians who inhabited the region. They called it the parrots that lived here.
Initially, about 1,500 workers were involved in the construction site, and closer to the start of the tournament - almost twice as many. The arena was never fully completed for the 1950 World Cup, but it could host matches.
The stadium had a roof fixed on consoles; the field was separated from the stands by a moat with water. Subsequently, a covered gym"Maracanzinho".
The first game at the Maracanã (emphasis on the last syllable) took place on June 16, 1950 – the teams of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro met. The victory went to the visiting team, but the first goal at the new stadium was scored by a representative of the hosts - a future legend Brazilian football Didi. The Maracana was completely completed only in 1965.
The Brazilian national team started at the World Cup with a 4:0 victory over the Mexicans and subsequently won their group almost without problems.
It is worth noting that due to the refusal of many teams to come to Brazil, the tournament layout looked rather strange. Thirteen participants final tournament formed four groups - two groups of four teams, one of three teams and one of two. The group winners formed the final quartet, which was supposed to determine the strongest team on the planet.
Uruguay was luckier than anyone, being in a group of two teams and only needing one victory over the Bolivians to participate in the final matches. The national teams of Spain and Sweden were also there.
Brazil was seen as a champion, both before the tournament and especially during it. The number of spectators at the Maracana grew from match to match. After two impressive body blows by the Spaniards and Swedes in the final group, literally everyone declared the championship hosts the winners. The newspapers were full of victorious headlines, and the football players were already being celebrated. The match with Uruguay was considered a mere formality, because the opponent was only satisfied with a victory. Uruguay managed to lose points with Spain and put the squeeze on Sweden at the very end.
Officially, 173,830 tickets were sold for the game, but the total number of people in the stadium significantly exceeded this figure - from 199 to 210 thousand people! Simply incredible!
Brazil attacked from the very beginning of the match, but Uruguay defended competently and the first half passed without goals. Already in the very opening of the second half, the hosts' forward Frias opened the scoring. It seemed the job was done. Uruguay captain Obdulio Varela began to argue with the referee, which took a lot of time. As he himself later admitted, he did this in order to take a break and bring down the attacking fervor of the Brazilians. To the whistle of the stands and indignant glances Brazilian football players the game was resumed.
Brazil continued to attack, but 20 minutes later Schiaffino equalized. Anxiety filled the hearts of Brazilian fans, and the great captain of the Uruguayan team, Varela, led his team to victory.
11 minutes before the end of the match, something irreparable happened.
The author of the first assist, Higgia, fell down the right flank onto Barbosa's goal. The goalkeeper, who thought that the Uruguayan would cross, as in the case of the first goal, accidentally opened the near corner. And Higgia hit the goal as hard as he could. And I got it!
Subsequently, the players of the Uruguayan squad admitted that they had never heard such silence in the stadium.
Brazil tried to save the match, but Maspoli, the Uruguay goalkeeper, did not disappoint.
After final whistle Instead of solemn events, mourning began.
FIFA President Jules Rimet just silently handed over the winners' trophy to Varela.
The gate into which Higgia scored was named after him for a long time. Many years later, the Brazilian national team goalkeeper Barbosa acquired the unlucky goal and burned it.
After the final, there were reports of several spectators dying from heart attacks in the stands and dozens of suicides across the country. And in Uruguay, July 16 was declared a national holiday.
This game went down in history under the name Maracanazo (port. - ).
It had many consequences, both for its participants and for the entire country as a whole. The Brazilian national team permanently abandoned the white uniform in which they then competed, replacing the unlucky T-shirts with yellow ones with green stripes and blue shorts. Many football players were never called up again national team. Well, for the already mentioned goalkeeper Moasir Barbosa, that game became a curse that ruined not only his career, but also his life. From best goalkeeper in the history of Vasco da Gama, many shunned as if from a scarecrow, and even once officials of the Brazilian Football Association forbade him to comment on the national team match!
This defeat was the most painful in the history of Brazilian football, which they still remember with a shudder.
1950 World Cup matches:
- 06/24/1950, 1st round, group “A”, Brazil – Mexico – 4:0, 82,000 spectators
- 06/25/1950, 1st round, group “B”, England – Chile – 2:0, 30,000 spectators
- 06/29/1950, 2nd round, group “B”, Spain – Chile – 2:0, 16,000 spectators
- 07/01/1950, 3rd round, group “A”, Brazil – Yugoslavia – 2:0, 142,000 spectators
- 07/02/1950, 3rd round, group “B”, Spain – England – 1:0, 74,000 spectators
- 07/09/1950, final group, Brazil - Sweden - 7:1, 139,000 spectators
- 07/13/1950, final group, Brazil - Spain - 6:1, 153,000 spectators
- 07/16/1950, final group, Uruguay - Brazil - 2:1, 199,854 spectators
From the World Cup to the beginning of the 21st century
After the World Cup, local giants settled at the Maracanã - Flamengo, Fluminense, Botafogo and Vasco da Gama. They, of course, did not play all their matches here, but the most important ones were always played at the Maracanã.
Like the Scottish Hampden Park, the Maracanã has set many records that are unlikely to ever be broken:
- December 15, 1963 – an attendance record for club tournament matches was set. The classic confrontation between Flamengo and Fluminense attracted 194,603 spectators (177,656 tickets were sold)
- August 31, 1969 – qualifying match for the 1970 World Cup between Brazil and Paraguay attracted 195,513 spectators (183,341 with tickets).
Pele's Santos club also played many of its important matches at the Maracanã. Here the club played the final of the 1963 Libertadores Cup and hosted its European rivals in the matches for the Intercontinental Cup.
Here the “king of football” scored his 1000th career goal. It happened on November 19, 1969 in the Santos match against Vasco da Gama, when in the 32nd minute of the match Pele converted a penalty.
In the 1970s, the so-called “geral” appeared - standing places and benches behind the goals - a tier for the poorest football fans.
In the 1976 Brazilian Championship, during the match between Fluminense and Corinthians, the stands of the stadium were visited by 70,000 visiting fans (in total there were 146,000 at the game). This is a record-breaking fan outing in football history.
A huge number of people have visited the stands of the Maracana for many decades. In the 1980s, its average attendance was around 130,000 spectators.
In 1980, the USSR national team, in a match dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the Maracana, unexpectedly slammed the three-time world champions at that time in the presence of 130,000 people with a score of 2:1.
We often visited the Maracanã European clubs, to fight with local giants, so the stadium has seen a lot in its time.
In 1992, a tragic incident occurred at the Maracana. During one of the fights, part of the upper tier of the stands collapsed. Three people were killed and more than 50 others were seriously injured. This event sparked speculation that the stadium was outdated and might need to be demolished. But in 1998, the Maracana was added to the list of national symbols of Brazil, which made its dismantling impossible.
In 2000, the country was supposed to host the first world championship for club teams. For this purpose, a large-scale reconstruction was carried out, which led to a decrease in the arena's hosting capacity to 103,022 people. So "Maracana" ceased to be the most big stadium in the world.
Club World Cup 2000 matches:
- 01/06/2000, 1st round, group “B”, “Manchester United” – “Necaxa” (Mexico) – 1:1, 50,000 spectators
- 01/06/2000, 1st round, group “B”, “Vasco da Gama” – “South Melbourne” (Australia) – 2:0, 66,000 spectators
- 01/08/2000, 2nd round, Group B, Manchester United - Vasco da Gama - 1:3, 73,000 spectators
- 01/08/2000, 2nd round, group “B”, “South Melbourne” - “Necaxa” - 1: 3, 5,000 spectators
- 01/11/2000, 3rd round, group “B”, “Manchester United” – “South Melbourne” – 2:0, 25,000 spectators
- 01/11/2000, 3rd round, group “B”, “Necaxa” - “Vasco da Gama” - 1: 2, 45,000 spectators
- 01/14/2000, match for 3rd place, Real Madrid - Necaxa - 1:1, on penalties - 3:4, 35,000 spectators
- 01/14/2000, final, Vasco da Gama - Corinthians - 0:0, penalties - 3:4, 73,000 spectators
In 2005, the Maracana was closed again for reconstruction to prepare it for the 2007 Pan American Games. The moat that had surrounded the field all these years was removed, the field itself was raised slightly up and closer to the stands. He was liquidated and destroyed. The Maracana now accommodated 82,238.
"Maracana" today
Only Brazil competed to host the 2014 World Cup. Due to FIFA's policy of rotating continents hosting world championships, the 2014 tournament was supposed to go to South America. Other countries in the region abandoned the fight, so Brazil could prepare to receive guests.
Naturally, the main stadium of the upcoming championship was to be the Maracana, the pride of the country. But despite two recent renovations, the stadium bore little resemblance to an arena worthy of hosting a World Cup final.
In 2010, the Maracana closed again for reconstruction, the third in 11 years! But if earlier appearance the stadium has not changed much, now the Maracana is simply unrecognizable.
Only the facade of the stadium remained old, which could not be touched (after all, the historical heritage of Brazil). For the rest we see absolutely new arena. More than 11,000 workers took part in the reconstruction of the stadium. The conversion costs amounted to BRL 957 million, which equates to approximately US$0.5 billion.
The stands have been brought closer to the field, and now the distance to them is only 13 meters (previously it was about 30). The roof was completely replaced, which now covers 95% of the spectator seats. Rainwater is collected on the roof, which is then used for the stadium's internal needs.
The field is illuminated by 396 floodlights, and 4 electronic scoreboards delight spectators with high-quality replays of the most interesting moments of the match.
The stands are designed for 78,838 spectators, but during the World Cup this number will decrease slightly - 73,531 seats.
The stadium has 68 VIP boxes, many bars and restaurants. 17 new panoramic elevators have appeared. All spectators may leave the Maracana within 12 minutes. There are special seats in the arena for very fat people. The parking lot has a capacity of 14,000 spaces.
The stadium has an oval shape - 317 meters along the major axis and 279 meters along the minor axis. Longest distance from the stands to the center of the field is 126 meters, the height of the entire structure is 32 meters.
In front of the entrance to the Maracana there is a monument to Iderald Bellini, captain of the Brazilian champion teams at the 1958 and 1962 World Cups.
As before, you can get to the stadium through two approach bridges. One is called the “Bellini entrance” (near it there is a monument), the other is the “entrance of the University of Rio de Janeiro”. And unofficially they are called “Flamengo entrance” and “Vascu entrance” - this has been the custom since the 1970s.
After reconstruction, the teams of friends Bebeto and Ronaldo were the first to set foot on the stadium field in the presence of 25,000 spectators, including construction workers. Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff was also present at the match.
The arena was officially opened on June 2, 2013 friendly match Brazil and England (2:2).
A few days later, Maracana hosted the Confederations Cup matches, including the final.
The stadium houses the Walk of Fame and the Football Museum.
The museum was opened in 2006 and became the first in the country dedicated to this sport. Interestingly, visiting the museum is free.
The Walk of Fame was opened in 2000. It contains footprints or handprints (for goalkeepers) of famous mainly Brazilian football players.
On the territory of the stadium there are busts of Garrincha, Mario Zagalo, Mario Filho, a statue top scorer in the history of the Zico Stadium (333 goals in 435 matches). He also scored greatest number goals in one match - 6 goals in 1979.
The most major victories at the stadium are: Flamengo - San Cristovao -12:2 (1956, Carioca League), Spain - Tahiti - 10:0.
In addition to football, Maracana hosted a huge number of others, not only sporting events. This includes the visit of Pope John Paul II, various concerts, and even volleyball and basketball matches! There is probably no point in listing all this. Just one KISS concert in 1983 attracted 250,000 spectators!
Botafogo and Vasco now have their own stadiums - Engenyan and San Januario, respectively. But “Fla” and “Flu” remained at the Maracana.
In 2016, the stadium hosted the opening and closing ceremonies of the summer Olympic Games, which went to Rio de Janeiro.
And in the summer of 2014, Maracana became the second stadium in the world, after the Mexican one, to host two World Cup finals. And let the famous It was not a final, but in fact it was a decisive match. This time, the Brazilian national team did not reach the final and never played at the Maracanã during the tournament.
Intercontinental Cup matches:
- 09.19.1962, “Santos” – “Benfica” – 3:2, 90,000 spectators (second match – 5:2)
- 11/14/1963, “Santos” – “Milan” – 4:2, 132,728 spectators (first match – 2:4)
- 11/16/1963 (replay) “Santos” – “Milan” – 1:0, 120,421 spectators
Copa Libertadores finals:
- 09/03/1963, “Santos” – “Boca Juniors” – 3:2, 100,000 spectators (second match – 2:1)
- 11/13/1981, Flamengo - Cobreloa - 2:1, 93,985 spectators (second match - 0:1, replay - 2:0)
- 07/02/2008, “Fluminense” – “LDU Quito” – 3:1, 78,918 spectators (first match – 2:4)
Copa Sudamericana 2009 final:
- 12/02/2009, “Fluminense” – “LDU Quito” – 3:0, 69,565 spectators (first match – 1:5)
CONMEBOL Cup Final:
- 09.29.1993, “Botafogo” – “Penarol” – 2:2, on penalties – 3:1, 45,000 spectators (first match – 1:1)
Supercopa Libertadores finals:
- 11/17/1993, Flamengo - Sao Paulo - 2:2 (second match - 2:2, penalties - 3:5)
- 12/06/1995, Flamengo - Independiente - 1:0, 89,336 spectators (first match - 0:2)
Confederations Cup 2013:
- 06/16/2013, 1st round, group “A”, Mexico – Italy – 1:2, 73,123 spectators
- 06/20/2013, 2nd round, group “B”, Spain – Tahiti – 10:0, 71,806 spectators
- 06/30/2013, final, Brazil – Spain – 3:0, 73,531 spectators
World Cup 2014 matches:
- 06/15/2014, 1st round, group “F”, Argentina – Bosnia and Herzegovina – 2:1, 74,738 spectators
- 06/18/2014, 2nd round, group “B”, Spain – Chile – 0:2, 74,101 spectators
- 06/22/2014, 2nd round, group “N”, Belgium – Russia – 1:0, 73,819 spectators
- 06/25/2014, 3rd round, group “E”, Ecuador – France – 0:0, 73,747 spectators
- 06/28/2014, 1/8 finals, Colombia – Uruguay – 2:0, 73,804 spectators
- 07/04/2014, 1/4 finals, France – Germany – 0:1, 74,240 spectators
- 07/13/2014, final, Germany – Argentina – 1:0, 74,738 spectators
Excursion to the Maracanã Stadium in Rio: how to see celebrities and visit the Museum of Brazilian Football. How does the stadium live today? Photos and reviews.
If you ask any traveler what the main ones are, you can hear anything in response, from the National Park and mountains, to the carnivals of Rio and the wonderful cuisine that is offered in the peripheral regions of the country. But only a true fan and football lover will say without hesitation that the most important attraction of Brazil is the Maracana stadium, located, probably, in the most beautiful city in the country - Rio de Janeiro.
Maracana is one of the largest stadiums in the world!
History of the stadium construction
Built in 1948 to host the 1950 World Cup, the Maracanã Stadium was the largest structure of its kind in the entire world at the time.
This arena is designed for more than 150 thousand people, but later the seats were reduced for safety reasons and today the stadium seats no more than 80 thousand people. Although during the first championship, according to unofficial data, more than 200 thousand people were present here.
Later, the Maracanã Stadium more than once became the arena of decisive football battles; most recently, in 2014, the two strongest teams met here in the final “battle.” And very soon the opening ceremony of the Summer Olympic Games in Rio will take place at Maracana; this will happen this year.
Celebrities and Walk of Fame
Maracanã Stadium is clearly visible from observation platforms Rio
In addition to football, other sporting and cultural events are regularly held at this stadium. So, at one time, such groups as the Rolling Stones, Kiss performed here, Paul McCartney and Tina Turner, Frank Sinatra and Madonna performed as soloists, even the Pope himself more than once communicated with his flock from the field of the stadium in . And in honor of the athletes who played at the Maracana, the Walk of Fame was established in 2000. Therefore, today you can see such celebrities as Pele, Eusebio, Beckenbauer and many others here.
In addition, on the territory of the Maracan Stadium, everyone can visit the football museum, which displays awards and personal belongings of legendary football players.
Maracanã Stadium today
The stadium is visited by independent travelers and organized groups
Today, the oval bowl of the Maracanã stadium is the central sports arena Rio, although initially it was just a renovated stadium of one of the city clubs, Vasca da Gama.
Updated and reconstructed to last championship world, the stadium today is also one of the most comfortable and equipped stadiums. All spectator seats are protected from the scorching rays of the sun by a darkened plastic roof, and local cafes and restaurants serve delicious dishes and always have soft drinks available.
In a city of contrasts, the Maracana Stadium neighbors favelas
Although, to be honest, I am not a passionate fan of football, but while in Rio de Janeiro, my husband still persuaded me to visit Maracanã Stadium. Looking ahead, I will say that I did not regret it at all. In general, for many people, Brazil is associated with carnival or with the statue of Christ in Rio de Janeiro, but for football fans, when mentioning this country, a different association immediately arises- luxurious Maracanã stadium.
The Maracanã Stadium is open to visitors every day (even at holidays) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. About 7,000 people visit the stadium every month. The Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro is rightfully considered a symbol of world football. Many football players dream of playing at least one match in their career at this stadium, because playing on the field of this legendary stadium means forever preserving their name in the history of world football. By the way, since 1998 the stadium has been included in the list of historical monuments.
This miracle of sports architecture was named after the small river that flows near the stadium. Construction Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro started in 1948 and was timed to coincide with the World Cup in 1950. The official opening of the Maracana stadium took place in the summer of 1950, at which time a national team match was held hereteams from Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. The official name of the stadium is Maracanã Mario Filho, this name was given to it in honor of the Brazilian journalist who took an active part in the development of the stadium project.
The total area of the Maracanã Stadium (together with its surrounding areas) is approx. 195600 sq. m. The stadium is built in the shape of an oval, the roof canopy is fixed on consoles, and the field is separated from the stands by a small moat with water.
A tour of Rio de Janeiro's Maracanã Stadium starts right at the entrance. Next to it is a monument to the captain of the championship teams of Brazil- Hilderaldo Bellini.
Here you can see a peculiar Hall of Fame stadium, where 90 great football players of the world left their footprints, including Ronaldo, Pele, Carlos Torres.
Walking further, we saw an exhibition of autographed photographs and commemorative plaques. Throughout the history of Maracana, many famous personalities have visited here, from the Pope to the Queen of England. The photographs depict legends of Brazilian and world football. Part of the exhibition is dedicated to famous teams, and the other- grandiose concerts that were held at the Maracana stadium, among the stars at the stadium were Tina Turner, Paul McCartney and many others.
Also inside the stadium you can see various panels and frescoes that depict the history of the construction of the Maracana, as well as the history of Brazilian and world football.
On the territory of the Maracanã stadium there is an indoor sports hall, so to speak a smaller copy of the stadium. That's what this room was called- Maracanazinho, which translated means small or baby. Various concerts, festivals, competitions are held here, includingboxing, tennis and much more.
Then we took the elevator to the 6th floor. From here you have a magnificent panorama of this huge sports complex. From above you can clearly see the entire field and stands, including the VIP seats where the Pope and Queen Elizabeth once watched the game.
This podium is intended for honored guests.
And at the end of the excursion, we went out onto the stadium field, where the legendary Pele scored his thousandth goal against the opponents.
Overall, the excursion was educational. Football fans will certainly enjoy the large and beautiful Maracanã Stadium, and those who are far from sports, in my opinion, will be interested in visiting here.
Only 6 months have passed since the closing of the Olympic Games in Rio, and most of the Olympic venues are already falling apart. The reason is simple - the city does not have enough money to maintain them, and it is also impossible to attract athletes and tourists there, so the whole Olympic Park stands empty and abandoned. And given the crime that reigns in Brazil, it is not difficult to guess that in a year everything will be taken apart brick by brick. They have already started stealing wiring, fire extinguishers and equipment.
In general, the Olympics are often a big problem for the city. I have been to many former Olympic venues, and very rarely can they be integrated into quiet city life. Even in Moscow, numerous stadiums and sports facilities today they look like foreign bodies in an urban environment.
I suggest you take a walk through the Olympic Park in Rio and see what it looks like six months later.
Photo: Nacho Doce/Reuters
This is the Maracana, the most big stadium in Brazil. In 2016, the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympic and Paralympic Games were held here. And this is where they played out football matches Olympics. The stadium is now abandoned... 
The reason is that the authorities, Olympic organizers and stadium owners could not agree on which of them would pay the nearly million dollar bill for electricity and maintenance of the facility. As a result, the electricity was turned off... 
Photo: Vanderlei Almeida/AFP/Getty Images
The stadium was not built from scratch. It has existed here since 1950, and in 2010-1012 it was simply restored. The restoration cost 400 million euros and was timed to coincide with the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The stadium was little used during the 2016 Olympics. The last event was held here in December, it was a charity match. Since then, the stadium has been completely abandoned. 
Photo: Silvia Izquierdo/AP
But two months was enough... Vandals tore up thousands of seats. 
Photo: Silvia Izquierdo/AP
Electronic signs were stolen. 
Photo: Silvia Izquierdo/AP
The upholstery on the seats was torn. Although some hoped that everything would be different. Here, for example, is a quote from Mauricio Santoro, a political scientist at the State University of Rio de Janeiro: The Maracana is the main symbol of how the games are organized. Most people will never come to the golf course or other Olympic venues. But with the Maracanã everything is different. This is the jewel in the crown." 
Photo: Silvia Izquierdo/AP
This is what the stadium looks like from the outside. The Rio de Janeiro Football Federation fears things will only get worse. The stadium is technically the home of four football clubs, but they do not use it. 
Photo: Vanderlei Almeida/AFP/Getty Images
Olympic water stadium. Its façade was decorated with translucent canvases created by Brazilian artist Adriana Varejo, which are now tattered and torn. 
Photo: Nacho Doce/Reuters
And the training pool is filled with rainwater, dirt and dead insects. 
Photo: Pilar Olivares/Reuters
This is what the water center looks like inside. 
Photo: Pilar Olivares/Reuters
And this is the Olympic golf course, in the development of which 16 million euros were invested. After the Olympics, the Brazilian Golf Confederation was unable to attract enough players here. There is not enough money to maintain the facility. 
Photo: Nacho Doce/Reuters
The modular houses on the golf course built for the Olympics are now also abandoned. 
Photo: Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP/Getty Images
On the fence around the Deodoro sports complex he sees a notice: “We are closed while the pool is being repaired, we will be back in January. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!” In general, the area around Deodoro was going to be turned into a large park after the Olympics. But in December, the mayor's office terminated the contract with the company that was supposed to do this. Now the local Olympic Committee is looking for a new contractor who could take control of the sports complex. 
Photo: Pilar Olivares/Reuters
This is the Carioca Arena, where basketball, fencing and martial arts competitions took place. 
Photo: Pilar Olivares/Reuters
And this is the Olympic tennis center. At the beginning of February, a beach volleyball competition was held here, and until that moment the facility also stood abandoned. 
Photo: Pilar Olivares/Reuters
Photo: Pilar Olivares/Reuters
Teresa Williamson, director of an NGO that works to support people living in slums, believes the Olympic Park has been abandoned because of the city's general economic downturn: "Because of the Olympics, Rio has seen the most rapid growth economy, and because of it, the fastest decline is now observed here. Absolutely everyone suffers losses.” 
Photo: Silvia Izquierdo/AP
Photo: Chris McGrath/Getty
According to city residents, the only positive aspect remaining after the Olympics is the improvement of the system public transport. But it also affected only prosperous areas. 
Photo: Mario Tama/Getty
In no country in the world are there successful cases of exploitation of the Olympic heritage without complete reconstruction. A normal city doesn't need that much sports facilities such capacity. In London, for example, the former Olympic Park began to be built up with housing after the Olympics; it was almost completely remodeled. In Sochi, the mountain cluster has turned into a resort, which is good. True, the railway line turned out to be unprofitable, and trains now run very rarely. It is quite possible that over time it will have to be dismantled, because after the Olympics it is not profitable to run empty trains. But there is a problem with stadiums. Most of the time, the Olympic Park in Sochi stands empty. The gigantic spaces filled with asphalt that were needed in 2014 are now idle. They are very expensive to maintain, and there is no reason to. And the Olympic Park needs to be reconstructed, of course, otherwise it will continue to stand as a monument to the Olympics, sucking up a lot of money to maintain order.
Football fans know that their homeland popular game is Great Britain. But the main achievements in its popularization and development belong to sunny Brazil. People here start playing this active game, which is adored by all Brazilians, as soon as they can barely walk. Any inexperienced tourist who has visited the stadiums of Rio de Janeiro and football matches of famous clubs will fall in love with football for life.
"Maracana"– the largest in capacity football stadium Brazil. Officially the stadium is called Mario Filho, and until recently it was the largest stadium in the world. Serves as the home arena of the Brazilian national team, Flamengo and Fluminense clubs. And the two grand clubs of the state - Vasco da Gama and Botafogo, having their own stadiums with a capacity of forty thousand people, prefer to hold the Superclassico with other teams at the Maracanã. Every year they spend here final games in the Carioca League championship.
The stadium got its name from the small river Maracana, which flows nearby. In 1948, before the 1950 World Cup, construction began on the Maracana. Construction work was finally completed only in 1965. The original plan was to replace the old one sports facility football club"Vasco da Gama", but "Maracana" eventually turned into the national stadium of Brazil.
“Mario Filho” is the official name given to it in honor of the journalist with whose help the project was brought to life. In the summer of 1950, the new stadium was inaugurated with a match between the national teams of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, when the famous Didi scored the first goal.
During the fourth World Cup, significant events took place at the Maracanã international games, the highest tension in the decisive match was the defeat of the hosts from their long-time rivals - the Uruguayans. 199,850 fans - a record number of spectators attended the match. In terms of attendance, the football stadium set several records that have not been broken to this day.
Up to 180 thousand fans gathered at the Maracanã at international meetings. In the 1980s, attendance at matches at national championships was up to 130 thousand spectators. To play home games of the Intercontinental Cup at the Maracana, Santos specially came here in 1962 and 1963. In the winter of 2000, the world's strongest clubs participated in the finals club championship world, the first edition of the new tournament established by FIFA.
The stadium is built in the shape of an oval. The stands are separated from the field by a moat with water, the roof canopy is fixed using consoles. Near the main arena there is the Maracanazinho indoor gym, which hosts tennis matches, boxing competitions and even various concerts and festivals.
Once upon a time this football arena was the largest in the world and could accommodate two hundred thousand spectators. But FIFA established the requirement for only numbered spectator seating, so the stadium abolished the “geral” - benches and standing places behind the goals where the poorest fans sat. “Geral” is the most democratic place on the “Maracana” and over time has become part of football team Brazil. The symbolic cost of a ticket of one dollar gave almost every fan the opportunity to see the match of their favorite team.
After reconstruction, the sports facility lost its status as the largest stadium in South America. As of 2014, the capacity is only 78,838 spectators. At the request of FIFA, at the 2014 FIFA World Cup the number of seats was reduced to 73,531. A new plastic roof protected almost all spectator seats from the sun and rain.
In 2016, the Maracanã will host the opening and closing ceremonies of the Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games, as well as football matches of the Olympic tournament.
Water park named after Maria Lenk located in Gorodskoe sports park. The stadium, built in 2004, hosted the 2007 Pan American Games (swimming and diving competitions). The complex was named in honor of the first Latin American woman to participate in the Olympic Games.
The water park was built in accordance with FINA requirements: a diving pool and one fifty-meter pool. Area 42 thousand sq. m, capacity up to eight thousand spectators.
By decision of the Brazilian Olympic Committee, water athletes conducted and are still conducting training here in preparation for the Olympic Games in Beijing 2008, London 2012, Rio 2016.
In 2016, water polo and diving competitions will be held here as part of the Summer Olympic Games.
Sports complex "Maracanazinho"(from Portuguese "Little Maracanã") has the official name "Gilberto Cardoso Sports Complex". This indoor sports arena seats up to twelve thousand spectators. The opening took place in 1954. Maracanazinho hosted world tournaments in basketball, volleyball, judo, futsal, and the 2007 Pan American Games. The complex will host in 2016 volleyball tournament Summer Olympic Games. Maracanazinho served as the main venue for international song festivals (from 1966 to 1972) and Miss Brazil competitions.
The sports complex was named after the former president of the Flamengo club, Gilberto Cardoso. At the time of opening, the spectator capacity was 13,613 seats. A severe fire in 1970 destroyed the roof, prompting the relocation of the Miss Brazil pageant. The Maracanazinho resumed operations after restoration work the following year. On the eve of the 2007 Pan American Games, a new reconstruction was carried out.
The complex, which opened in 2007, has a smaller number of spectator seats - 11,800. The updated stadium is equipped with a four-sided electronic scoreboard made in China and the latest system conditioning.
In 2009, a Walk of Fame was opened at Maracanazinho, where names are immortalized famous athletes who have ever performed in this arena. The first members of the Walk of Fame were the famous futsal player Falcao, coach Bernardo Rezende and twelve players from the Brazilian men's volleyball team. Also on the Walk of Fame were two-time world basketball champions Amauri Pazos and Vlamir Marques, Olympic champion– volleyball player Faby Oliveira. Next on the Walk of Fame were tennis player Gustavo Kuerten, judokas Ketlein Quadrus, Joao Derli, and Ruggeriu Sampaio.
In 2008 in sports complex The final games of the sixth world mini-football championship were held, the home team won. In 2013, the World Judo Championship was held here.
In the 1960s and 1970s, the complex was known as a venue for large international festivals and concerts. IN different years Such famous Brazilian performers as Tom Jobin, Gilberto Gil, Chico Buarqui, Maria Betania, Gerald Vandre, Caetano Veloso had a chance to perform at the Maracanazinho arena. Here in 1975 it was organized ice show Holiday on Ice.
Rio Olympic Arena is a multi-purpose sports and concert complex and is located in Olympic Park Rio. Construction of the complex lasted from February 2006 to June 2007.
The building is the largest indoor arena in Rio de Janeiro with a total area of up to 65 thousand square meters. m. The complex consists of multi-purpose premises used for training and corporate events. Around the main arena there are seats (two hundred each) for distinguished guests and the press, more than fifty boxes with 1,118 seats, permanent (12,988) and removable (1,984) seats. For concert events, the number of spectator seats can be increased to 18 thousand. The main arena is equipped with an electronic scoreboard. The building has eight elevators and four ramps for wheelchairs. Near the complex there is a parking lot for 1,300 parking spaces.
The complex is rented by the banking concern HSBC from 2008 to 2016 (the start of the Olympic events) and is called the HSBC Arena.
Immediately after its opening in 2007, the Rio Olympic Arena hosted the gymnastics and basketball competitions of the Pan American Games. The World Judo Championships were also organized here in 2007 and the Military World Games in 2011. The Rio 2016 Olympic Arena will host gymnastics tournaments during the Summer Olympics and basketball competitions at the Paralympic Games.
The HSBC Arena hosted matches of the national basketball championship, in which multiple champions countries - Flamengo team and fights Ultimate Fighting Championship.
HSBC Arena is a venue for concerts of pop stars and rock musicians. Beyoncé, Bob Dylan, Cat Power, Joe Cocker, Eric Clapton, Diana Ross, Robert Plant, Queen, Dave Matthews Band, R.E.M., Green Day, Kiss and other performers performed here, and the Miss Rio de Janeiro beauty contests were held. .
Olympic Velodrome of Barra Built for the 2007 Pan American Games, it is located near the Nelson Piquet International Circuit, next to the Maria Lenk Aquatic Park and the Rio Olympic Arena.
The center can accommodate 6,400 spectators. It plans to include Olympic track cycling races in singles and doubles among women and men, and Paralympic tandem track racing.
Exhibition complex Riocentro located in the Barra di Tijuca region. It is the largest exhibition center in South America and the largest in the world. During the 2016 Summer Olympics in Riocentro, competitions are planned in boxing, weightlifting, table tennis, badminton.
Vasco da Gama Stadium, better known as San Januario belongs to Vasco da Gama, named after the street and club of the same name. Opened in April 1927. The façade of the stadium is considered an artistic and national historical heritage of Brazil. It is located in the Vasco da Gama district, on a hill next to the National Observatory of Brazil. Due to its location, the stadium was given the nickname "Estadio da Colina" - Stadium Hill. And the team got a nickname "Big Hills" In this arena, the coaching area and benches are located behind the goals.
Initially, the stadium could accommodate more than 15 thousand spectators. In the first match for the stadium, the Vasco da Gama team beat the Santos team.
Sao Januario was the largest stadium in Brazil until Pacaemba was opened in Sao Paulo. In Rio de Janeiro, he lost the palm in 1950, when the Maracana was built for the World Cup. After 88 years, it remains a popular large private stadium in the state of Rio de Janeiro.
Since the seventeenth president of Brazil, Getulio Vargas, spoke to the people very often in this arena, it has important historical significance for the country. The first working law was announced from the San Januario rostrum. At the 2016 Summer Olympics, the stadium will host rugby games.
Engenyan Stadium has the official name Olympic Stadium Joao Havelanja, he is also known as Nilton Santos Stadium. It is located on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro - Engenho di Dentru and therefore received such a name. Competitions are held in the arena athletics and football.
Property of the city of Rio de Janeiro, but the Botafogo club leases Engenyan until 2027. Botafogo pays $2 million in rent a year.
The City of Rio in 2015 allowed the Botafogo club to use the name "Nilton Santos Stadium" for its own purposes (in memory of the legendary Botafogo defender, the Brazilian national team Nilton Santos, who died in 2013). The club's initiative to officially rename the stadium was rejected.
In 2016, during the Summer Olympics and Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, the stadium will host athletics competitions.
When the Maracana was closed for reconstruction, from 2011 "Engenyan" was used as home arena Fluminense and Flamengo.
Sports tours to Brazil do not mean visiting only stadiums and related sporting events. Rio de Janeiro has many attractions popular with tourists: the famous statue of Christ the Redeemer, crowning the mountain peak of Corcovado, Copacabana Beach, Sugarloaf Mountain, Selaron Stairs, Lage Park, Sambadromo and much more.
