RIO Carnaval

Positive and negative impacts of major events in two cities -

the case of Rio Carnival and Lisbon Football Championship

MAGALHÃES, Fernanda (1) SERDOURA, Francisco (2) XAVIER, Helia Nacif

(1) Architect and Urbanist, PhD., Professor at Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie; Researcher at

CESUR, Universidade Técnica de Lisboa; e-mail:fmbrasil@hotmail.com

(2) Architect and Urbanist, MSc., Assistent at Faculdade de Arquitetura da Universidade Técnica de

Lisboa; Researcher at CESUR, Universidade Técnica de Lisboa; e-mail:fs@fa.utl.pt

(3) Architect and Urbanist, MSc., Researcher at Instituto Brasileiro de Administração Municipal; e-

mail:h.nacif@uol.com.br

Short Outline

In this paper two events in two different countries are selected to analyse the positive

and negative impacts on the city. This analysis is specially focused on the

consequences on the public spaces and on the improvement on quality of urban life

resulting from the construction of infrastructure for the events. The discussion is

centred on the advantages for private and public actors and citizens resulting from

them.

Abstract

The paper departure from the analysis of case studies in two cities, Lisbon and in Rio,

in two different continents Europe and South America, to discuss the impacts and

major changes caused in the city by major events such as the Carnival or the Football

championship. The following questions are dealt: How do the cities cope with the

increase on the abnormal infrastructure demands during the events? What sort of

temporary and permanent impacts can be identified in the cities? How people

perceive the physical and functional changes introduced in the city by those major

events just after they have happened? What sorts of measures local authorities take

action to minimise impacts over every day life over the time of the events? What sort

of use is given to infrastructure built to support the event after it? Frequently these

major events are also used by cities as a form to implement improvements and major

infrastructure on their urban space and as a form to produce and design new

developments. In the two specific cases the paper will look at what sort of impacts

and changes in the public spaces and on the urban fabric the events have caused,

and the type of urban development associated to them? And last what sort of new

demands have been generated on the public as a consequence of those changes

introduced by the events?

Introduction

Many cities around the world use events to promote urban life. This can be done in a

permanent basis like in fixed dates – through festivities and festivals like the

Revellion, the Carnival, national parades, music or cinema festivals; or in once in a

life events like housing an international fair, or a sport event. These events transform

the normal routine of the city and might cause real burden, but on the other hand they

can be used to create new opportunities. In this paper we will look at two special

occasions in two cities – the Carnival in Rio and the 2005 European Football

Championship to take place in Lisbon - to look at how cities deal with the impacts on

those events and pinpoint the opportunities that they might create for urban change.

The Case of Rio's Carnival

Despite of the importance of the event for the city there is little detailed information on

its impact on the city economy, culture and urban life. In a recent document – Plan of

Tourism for the City of Rio de Janeiro (Plano de Turismo da Cidade do Rio de Janeiro

– "Plano Maravilha") undertaken in 1997 by the Municipal Secretary of Tourism,

supported by the National Agency for Tourism (EMBRATUR), little reference is made

to the event as an opportunity for urban change and physical improvement of the city

itself.

The Carnival is an important part of the Rio's culture. It is a traditional party known

world-wide and strongly connected with popular culture, particularly to those of low-

income groups.

The Schools of Samba, internationally known by the brilliantly costumed dancers

performed in the parade (desfile), were founded from mid XXth century, resulting from

the incorporation of many elements of the existing carnival tradition. The first parade

took place in 1932 and from than onwards have become the most important carnival

event in the country.

Many of the Schools of Samba were born in the favelas of the city, and still are

housed there involving an important part of the community for the whole year,

generating work and income. The more paradigmatic cases are the Mangueira and

Salgueiro School that also name communities of the city – Morro

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