As we lead up to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in August, we’re sharing what we know about this summer’s host city. Brush up on these 10 facts and don’t miss our first roundup about Rio, a city known for its spirited celebrations, world-class beaches and resorts, and warm and wonderful people living Visa’s highest value of acceptance for
everyone, everywhere.
1. Rio de Janeiro served as the capital city of Brazil—both under Portuguese rule and as an independent nation—until 1960. Brasilia then took the honor under a plan to bring the capital city closer to the country center.
2. Some 6.3 million people—nearly the combined population of Los Angeles and Chicago—call Rio home.
3. During the War of the Spanish Succession, France held Rio for ransom and returned it for 100 chests of sugar and about 600,000 gold cruzados (the currency at the time).
4. Opened in 1877, Rio’s Santa Teresa Tram or bondinho is one of the oldest operating electric tramways in the world and the oldest in South America.
5. Rio has 158 neighborhoods, 33 parks (including Tijuca National Park, the part of the Atlantic rainforest that once surrounded the city) and 48 miles of shoreline.
6. Copacabana, which will host the Olympic Games competitions of beach volleyball, marathon swimming and triathlon, also hosts a New Year’s Eve celebration, where the tradition is to wear white to symbolize peace and renewal (with the hope that this year will be better than the last).
7. RIOgaleão is the largest airport in Brazil; more than 17 million passengers (double the population of Switzerland) traveled through RIOgaleão in 2014.
8. The Refugee Olympic Team (ROT) will be the first team made up exclusively of refugees and will compete under the Olympic flag at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
9. The mosaics around Copacabana feature QR codes that provide tourist information via your smartphone.
10. This year Visa will implement 4,000 point-of-sale terminals across key Rio 2016 Olympic Games venues, as well as 12 ATMs in partnership with Bradesco Bank in Brazil.
© 2016 Getty Images
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