The 2007 Rio Pan-American Games start on the 13th and end on the 29th of July. Here are some tips for the tourist arriving specifically for the Games or coincidentally landing here during the Games. We hope you find them useful.

1) During the Pan-games there’ll be an army on the streets. Police, military, undercover agents and the biggest security apparatus since the Eco 1992 Conference. That’s both good and bad. First, the bad : it looks awful. Armed men everywhere…. Second, the good: you’re safe if you’re not into terrorism. That said, these will be very exciting days to visit Rio.

2) Special transit areas will be created everywhere, streets will be painted with appropriate colors where they lead to the sports arenas. Use the signs.

3) English, German, and even Greek-speaking military units dressed like those on the picture to the right, will be placed in strategic places, you’ll easily identify them – they’re the Rio City GAT (Grupo de Apoio ao Turista).

4) U$ 195 million dollars is how much was spent in security for the Rio games.

5) If you MUST buy tickets for any of the sports events from 2nd hand dealers, do try to find a native who will do the dealing for you. A friend maybe, someone you trust. Why? They’ll cost twice if they suspect you have a pocket full of Euros. If you must do it yourself then you’ll probably be ok too, the events will be worth it after all.

6) The official Rio 2007 web site is www.rio2007.org.br

7) There will be 6 official ticket sales offices in Rio. Take note: Estádio do Maracanã, Estádio de Remo da Lagoa, Riocentro, Praia de Copacabana e Estádio João Havelange. You don’t need to know where each is, but if you keep these handy and ask around you’ll get there. Maracanã and Copacabana are the easiest ones to find.

8 ) Tickets can be paid for in Cash or VISA credit and debit cards only. (I think because VISA is an official sponsor, no other cards accepted.)

9) Like in the Olympics, the Pan games workers are volunteers – they work for a t-shirt I guess. Pay them a smile, be nice and show your appreciation!

10) For the digital camera owners(all of us?) : Bring some blank CD-R’s on your pouch. There’ll be internet cafe’s everywhere, but the blank CD’s might cost 10 times more. Insist that you can record them yourself too, I’ve found places charging 5 bucks just for the job of pushing the tray closed and clicking Start Burning. Some places won’t allow a pen-drive either…

11) Ah the Rio padarias!!! Padarias = pastries(of sorts). It’s my favorite part of traveling to Rio – having breakfast at the padarias. Standing by an old counter watching massive street traffic and peacefully having my breakfast, I just love the mix of modern and old tradition in Rio. Trust me – just ask for a pingado and misto quente(pingado = coffee+milk, misto quente = freshly baked bread sandwich of hot ham and melted cheese). It’ll be the cheapest most nutritive breakfast you can have. Plus you’ll look like a native Carioca(that’s what you call those born in Rio).

12) Cariocas pronounce the S differently from most brazilians. Their S sounds like ssshhh. So the local currency, Reais(reh-ighs) will sound sorta like “reh-highshhh” in Rio.

13) Speaking of which, the current exchange rate is 1 to 1.9 Dollars to Reais. Put simply : double your money.

14) You don’t want to be going around in tennis shoes. Buy yourself a pair of Havaianasshhhh

15) The Christ Redeemer has been elected one of the new 7 Wonders of the World. Pay Him a visit while you’re in Rio! In the sports mood? Try jogging up the gigantic stairwell!(Don’t! Unless you’ve got a heart like Lance Armstrong). The Christ is on top of the Corcovado hill(710 meters high).

16) Rio’s affectionately called “Cidade Maravilhosa”(Marvelous City) by brazilians. The title was coined by a locally well known brazilian writer and intellectual in 1908.

17) Rio was Brazil’s Capital up until 1960 when the new Capital Brasilia was inaugurated by President Juscelino Kubitschek.

18) Rio de Janeiro and San Antonio(Texas) were the two finalists in the race to host the 2007 Pan Games.

19) The best night clubs are in the Leblon neighborhood. Leblon is attached to Ipanema on the south, you actaully can’t tell that you just walked out of Ipanema into Leblon. But there are great spots all over town. You probably want to be in Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon or Barra da Tijuca most of your time when not concentrating on the Pan Games events.

20) The Pan Am Games’ opening ceremony will take place at the Maracanã – one of Rio’s landmarks and the world’s largest Soccer stadium.

21) Relax, discover, enjoy! I really am suspect to say I love Rio – that’d be totally biased. But ask anyone from Mick Jagger to Kiefer Sutherland – they’d probably tell you the same I would. Rio is lovely.

Welcome and have a great time!