Wed May 22 01:55:14 SAST 2013
Wed May 22 01:55:14 SAST 2013

Rio Carnival PHOTOS

Feb 23, 2012 | Sapa-dpa | 69 comments

The winning performance featured seven huge floats and 3,600 dancers in costumes

The samba school Unidos da Tijuca won the official competition Wednesday in Rio de Janeiro’s world-famous carnival.

With a performance late Monday at the Marques de Sapucai Sambadrome, Unidos da Tijuca beat rival groups Salgueiro and Vila Isabel by a narrow margin.

The winning performance, featuring seven huge floats and 3,600 dancers in costumes, honoured Brazilian singer-songwriter Luiz Gonzaga, who died in 1989 but would have turned 100 this year.

Supporters of the champion samba school celebrated their success, with plenty of dancing and beer.

Parades late Sunday and Monday at the Sambadrome are the highlight of the Rio carnival, and are attended by more than 70,000 spectators every night.

Thirteen samba schools competed for the prestigious carnival title, graded in 10 fields including choreography, music and floats by a 40-member jury.

Meanwhile, in Sao Paulo, the group Mocidade Alegre was declared the winner.

On Tuesday, violence involving scores of people led to a suspension of the announcement about the champion, amid complaints from the other samba schools that the competition was rigged for Mocidade Alegre.

Shortly before the winner was announced Tuesday, a member of the Imperio da Casa Verde samba school stormed the jury box and tore up their completed scoring papers before fleeing, all captured by television cameras.

The suspect was later identified and arrested along with four other samba school members.

After the incident, members and supporters from several samba schools poured into the Anhembi Sambadrome and vandalized facilities.

A float from the Perola Negra group was set ablaze at the sambadrome, with the owners blaming rivals from the Gavioes da Fiel group.

On Wednesday, Sao Paulo Mayor Gilberto Kassab threatened to take away financial assistance from city authorities for samba schools unless those responsible for the melee are punished.

Comments

Wed May 22 01:55:14 SAST 2013 ::
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Feb 23, 2012

MorenaWaPolelo

I did not see any cellulite like last friday ko Noort!
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Feb 23, 2012

tpaz

Brazil has women with beautiful bodies....
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Feb 23, 2012

Knoxmann

Pic 3, Dude is packing
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Feb 23, 2012

Ann

pic 4 , u look good gal!
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Feb 23, 2012

sarmologadi

pic 2 and 8, mmmmmmm...
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Feb 23, 2012

Bdoobs

I once downloaded this vid, it was the after party of the parade in a bar, my goodness, the bar was fool of sluts from boths sexes, brazilian music playing and it 'a fukk whoever you want to fukk kind of a party'. That day, I swore that I will have to get myself to Brazil and it will have to during february. This slow money is standing between me and my brazilian dream.
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Feb 23, 2012

truthhurt

Knoxmann
Pic 3, Dude is packing
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Do you want it?
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Feb 23, 2012

Mosquer

sarmologadi
pic 2 and 8, mmmmmmm...
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Kgane wena o reng o duma basadi?
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Feb 23, 2012

XHINOPHOBIA

pic 2 nd 8 ngabhonyelwa tjo
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Feb 23, 2012

TAKESHY

Ziyawala!!
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