Thais Leitão and Alana Gandra Reporters Agência Brasil

Rio de Janeiro – The schedule yesterday in Brasília ran late from the very beginning when president Obama was 30 minutes late at the Palácio do Planalto. As a result, Air Force One did not land in Rio until 8:15 pm. Leading the welcoming committee were the state governor and the city mayor. From the airport, the Obamas went to the Marriot Hotel, which is located in Copacabana on the beachfront (Avenida Atlântica) [the original schedule was for the president to stay in the Sheraton, which is one of the few Rio hotels with a private beach (leading the US media to cry foul as it seemed that he was taking a vacation amid at least three crises – the budget, Japan and Libya) The Sheraton was a security headache as it is located near slums that have not been part of the local government’s slum pacification program – 17 Rio slums have been pacified]

The schedule for today in Rio has already been changed. Instead of an early trip to the Christ the Redeemer statue (which will be 80 years old in October), the president and his family will go to the hillside slum, Cidade de Deus, first. Corcovado (the name of the hill the Christ the Redeemer statue sits on) will be later this afternoon.

Barack Obama will still make a speech at the Rio Municipal Theater after lunch.

At this moment, the Obama motorcade (15 vehicles or more) has arrived at Cidade de Deus.

Allen Bennett – translator/editor The News in English - content modified
Link - Obama chega ao Rio, onde visita o Corcovado e a Cidade de Deus

Link - Cidade de Deus se prepara para receber visita de Obama