RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) -- The extravagant samba parades began in Rio on Sunday night as the city celebrated Carnival. Tourism officials said almost 730,000 visitors arrived in Rio this year for the big party -- a 5 percent increase over last year. It's the first Carnival since Rio was named as host to the 2016 Olympics, and officials have been working hard to show that the city, known for the drug-gang violence that pervades its slums, can safely host major events.(22 images)
Carnival 2010
Last edited:
