Rio Wants Olympics And Prays En Masse

At least 2 million people are expected to head to Rio’s famous Copacabana beach this week to offer a “prayer to heaven” that the city be chosen to host the 2004 Olympic Games.

The mass prayer will be marked by a series of shows and 500,000 balloons will be released, said Jose Moraes, head of Rio’s Sports and Tourism Department.

“It will be an important day,” Moraes said. The International Olympic Committee soon is to announce the list of cities with the best chances of holding the games.