Carnival fever heats up Rio 'Samba City'

February 15, 2007

As Rio prepares to officially kick off Carnival on Saturday, the contest for the flamboyant float competition has already begun behind the scenes. In a complex called "Samba City" near Rio's port, about 4,000 craftsmen, seamstresses, workers and engineers are involved in building floats and making costumes for the 3,000-5,000 members of 13 samba schools. All are laboring furiously for ultimate Carnival glory at the Sambodromo stadium this weekend. A behind-the-scenes look at Samba City. (c) 2006 AFP