Considered the biggest stadium of samba in Brazil, the Sambodromo is one of the iconic spots in Rio de Janeiro. It was design by Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer and opened in 1984.
Located in area known as ‘berço do samba’, which translates as ‘cradle of samba’, it’s surrounded by favelas and has parallel stands, 700-metre long, that hold 90,000+ spectators. At the end, where archery takes place, there’s a memorial called Praça da Apoteose, Apotheosis Square, in an arch form.
The Sambodromo lies at the end of Rio’s annual Samba parade route, and is integral to the vibrant culture of the 2016 Olympic city.
Of the Sambodromo’s stands, 201 metres are in use for archery at the Olympics. Here’s a tour of this famous venue at the Games…
Ranking round field
In between sectors 12 and 13, odds on left side and evens on the right, Apotheosis Square is highlighted by a monumental arch – or a bow, if you turn the structure 90 degrees to the right. Another recognisable Rio icon, Christo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer), is visible on its mountain purchase in the distance at the back of the Sambódromo ranking field.
The space is set-up for 23 targets on a raised platform, three athletes each shooting from another platform from the opposite end, and, especially for the Olympics, the concrete floor has been covered with artificial grass.
It’s 106 metres long by 150 metres wide, including the stands.
Matchplay field
The place where Olympic Champions are crowned! The finals field plays host to all the individual and team elimination and finals rounds at Rio 2016. It has two 70-metre targets and – on either side – two big screens for TV and the scoring system. Spectators sit down both the right and left of the field.
Like on qualification area, the arch of the Apotheosis and Christ are visible, past the huge Olympic rings above the target.
It's 95 metres long by 80 metres wide, including stands.
media room
With capacity for 150 journalists and photographers, this is the place where media gather to make use of the internet, computers and get any information needed to feed the news. Well equipped with tables, printers and TVs, journalists from all around the world can follow all the action from archery and other sports at Rio 2016.
This is also where the Local Organising Committee and World Archery media team is located, and where the press conference with the 2016 Olympic archery medallists will take place.
Equipment repair booth
Because you never know when something will happen to your equipment, at every Olympic Games there’s an equipment repair booth, in which archers can get their bows fixed if they need to, or replace or get tools to tune kit during the event.
stands
The total number of seats available in the venue: 3812. They are divided into numbered and non-numbered and are located along both sides of the Sambodromo in sectors 10 and 11.
Technical office
The place in which the Local Organising Committee managers, technical officials, and the international technical delegates hang their hats and meet with the rest of the staff and volunteers. It also houses the Jury of Appeal, World Archery Secretary General’s office and other amenities required to make the world turn!
Olympic Family lounge
The World Archery Executive Board, Olympic Family and other VIPs have access to a lounge overlooking the field of play in sector 11, to the left of the arena. It’s a place to watch the competition, relax before and after and hosts meetings.
Athletes’ lounge
When they are not competing, training or giving interviews, athletes have a place, right next door to the Olympic Family Lounge, to have lunch, rest and watch the matches of other archers. The place is equipped with tables, chairs, sofas, TVs, food and an information board – that updates the teams on schedules, transport arrangements and other important information.
OVR (On-Venue Results)
The on-venue results team is in charge of spotting the arrows as they enter the target, confirming the scores with the technical officials at the target, and checking and updating the results system.
That data is then – by the magic of networking and the internet – sent around the world via the World Archery and Rio 2016 results platforms!
Sports presentation Office
Ever wonder where those tunes come from? Well, that’s from the Sports presentation team. In a room at the right side of the matchplay field, there’s a group of people working to run the show around the sport. That includes commentary, music, running the matches to schedule – and any of the other in-venue activities that make the Games so special.
The director of shooting also sits up here
Locker room
Travelling with a bow is something athletes are used to. But with a reasonable journey to the village in Rio, it doesn’t make sense for archers to have to move their kit every day – so there’s a secure locker room where they can leave gear on site.
mixed zone
After every single match, athletes are obliged to pass through the media and TV mixed zone to give interviews about their performance on the field. It’s set up in the right side of sector 10, close to the stands.
Archers first meet television channels – then move on to journalists and reporters.
The Rio 2016 Olympic archery competition continues with individual eliminations on 8-10 August.
