Rio celebrates start of Olympic year with special fireworks

Rio de Janeiro, Jan 1: The arrival of the year of 2016 Rio Olympics was marked here with a special fireworks show at the famous Copacabana Beach on Thursday-Friday night.

The fireworks show is a traditional New Year’s Eve party in Rio held every year. But this year — with less than eight months to go till the Rio Olympics, a special fireworks show highlighting the Olympic spirit through images and sounds was displayed, reports Xinhua.

“We start the year of the Olympics. We think that 2016 is a year to stay in the city’s history. Nothing better to start this year with this very special party, which is the Copacabana New Year’s Eve,” said Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes. (IANS)