After a lot of uncertainty, the Christmas Eve from Rio de Janeiro got sponsorship for the commemoration. Two companies are going to invest R$ 3 million. The information was confirmed this Thursday (23), by the mayor Eduardo Pais (PSD) at a press conference.
The mayor also said that the sponsorships did not reach the full value of the party, the difference will be complemented by the city hall. However, he did not specify what that value would be.
Paes reaffirmed that the municipality’s efforts to organize the event will be made in order to avoid the formation of agglomerations.
Among the measures defined, there will be control of access to the capital of Rio de Janeiro and specifically to the Copacabana neighborhood, internationally known for the celebrations of the biggest New Year’s Eve in the country. The fireworks display planned for the coast will last 16 minutes and will be the largest in the city.
“Public transport: we are doing everything unlike in other years, when we didn’t have a pandemic. Unreinforced bus lines. We want people to look for places with fires close to their homes to avoid large displacements. Anyone who tries to go by car and stop where he can’t will be towed away. So, our effort is to discourage agglomerations, especially in Copacabana”, emphasized the mayor.
The subway will close at 8pm on December 31st and reopen at 7am on January 1st. Chartered vehicles will also be banned from entering the city from midnight on December 30th.
In Copacabana, cars will not be able to circulate from 19:00 on December 31st. For this last day of the year, residents and guests will have until 10 pm to enter the neighborhood.
Regarding the contracts for the ferries for the fireworks show, Paes confirmed that they have all been closed. The strategy in this regard is to make the burning happen at 10 different points, as in previous editions, but with restrictions and without reinforcement in transport logistics, to prevent large crowds from forming in the same place at the same time.
The organization also foresees an urban art gallery in the streets, with works on display so that locals and tourists can take pictures and interact.
The Copacabana party will feature a playlist set up and monitored in real time by DJ MAM. But this time, he won’t be on stage, to be seen by the audience. The strategy is to isolate him at an undisclosed point, so he can command the party from a distance.
The entire sound of Copacabana, including the playlist, will be available online, so that people can follow it in their homes or private celebrations and do not need to go to the most famous beach in the country.
For those who go to the beach, the kiosks will be authorized to function, but cannot surround the space for parties with the sale of invitations. On the subject, Paes made an alert:
“Don’t buy tickets to private parties at kiosks. This is not allowed. There will be inspection. It cannot privatize public space”, he said.
According to the mayor, the city’s Scientific Committee authorized the New Year’s Eve format defined by the municipality. It will be the reunion of locals and tourists with the party, which did not take place in 2020 due to the new coronavirus pandemic.
According to municipal health authorities, the city has a favorable epidemiological scenario and the advance of Ômicron variant, which has already been detected in the capital of Rio de Janeiro, is being monitored.
“We are not going to turn the issue into the big party of hypocrisy. The virus doesn’t just choose New Year’s Eve. Ditto carnival. We are going to act rationally, allowing people to celebrate the turn of the year”, concludes the mayor.
In addition to Copacabana, there will be fireworks on the beaches of Barra da Tijuca, Recreio dos Bandeirantes and Sepetiba, in the West Zone, in Aterro do Flamengo, in the South Zone, in Ilha do Governador, in Piscinão de Ramos, in Igreja da Penha and in the Parque Madureira, in the North Zone, in addition to the Moça Bonita stadium, in Bangu, in the West Zone.
See New Year’s Eve fireworks in Rio de Janeiro in previous years
Reference: CNN Brasil
