RIO DE JANEIRO: This is a sure sign the 2016 Olympics are getting close.

Officials of next year’s games in Rio de Janeiro stood by Wednesday evening as fireworks exploded above a huge version of the symbolic five Olympic rings.

These rings were displayed in the northeastern city of Newcastle, England, during the 2012 games in London.

The rings were installed in Madureira Park in northern Rio, far from the heart of the Olympics in the western suburb of Barra da Tijuca. The large city park will be a viewing centre during the games with free broadcasts on giant television screens.

Rio’s city hall says other live viewing sites are planned in Rio’s port area with another in the western zone of the city.

The Rio Olympic Games open on Aug 5 next year.

Published in Dawn, May 22nd, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play