Rio de Janeiro Releases 2016 Olympics Theme Song (Video)

With the London ceremonies now in the the Olympics' rear-view mirror, competitors are looking to Rio de Janeiro for the next Olympics in 2016.

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As perhaps is to be expected, the Brazilian games will be celebrated with music ideally-suited for the tropical landscape -- a samba-funk anthem. A clip, which was released on Monday, unveiled the theme song "The Gods of Olympus Visit Rio de Janeiro."

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The lyrics, written by Brazilian composers Arlindo Cruz, Roge and Arlindo Neto, are being performed by well-known artists who represent the "carioca" identity (meaning people who live in Rio de Janeiro) including Zeca Pagodinho, Mart'nália, Ed Motta, Roberta Sá, Pedro Luis, Zelia Duncan, Thalma de Freitas, Toni Garrido, Sandra de Sá, Bochecha, Mr. Catra, Jorge Aragão, Diogo Nogueira and Velha Guarda da Portela.

The clip was produced and directed by Stephen Kassin Ciavatta, who chronicles the visit of the Greek gods Apollo, Poseidon, Hercules and Aphrodite as they travel to Rio.

The lyrics explain that the gods fell in love with the city and didn’t want to leave. Brazilian actor Rodrigo Santoro (300, Heleno), can be seen as one of the gods, holding a surfboard at the beach. Comedian Hélio de la Peña and actresses Fernanda Montenegro, Carolina Dieckman and Regina Case, are also representing the gods in different scenarios within the City of Rio De Janeiro.

The video was released on Monday afternoon, after the Olympic flag arrived in Rio with Mayor Eduardo Paes, Governor Sergio Cabral, President of the Brazilian Olympic Committee (COB) Carlos Arthur Nuzma and a gaggle of Brazilian athletes. 

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"It is a joy to get back to Rio de Janeiro with the Olympic flag, the symbol of the Olympics," said Paes. "This 4-year period is very special for any city. I was in London and I had the opportunity to see the amazing transformation of the city; I see the arrival of the Olympic flag as the consolidation of an important phase for Rio de Janeiro," concluded the Mayor.

During the closing ceremony of the London Games on Sunday night, Paes received the Olympic flag from the hands of London's Mayor Boris Johnson. The ceremony marked the countdown to the 2016 Olympic Games, the first in history to be held in a city in South America.

Also, Brazilian artists, including singer Marisa Monte, paid tribute to Brazilian culture. The ceremony also feature an appearance by a surprise guest, famous Brazilian soccer player Pele.

On Tuesday, Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff received the flag in Brazilia, the capital of Brazil. After leaving the city, the Olympic flag will pass through different parts of Rio de Janeiro, where it will remain until the next Olympic Games in 2016.

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Watch the video "The Gods of Olympus Visit Rio de Janeiro" below: