Manaus, Jun 09 (V7N) – Excitement surrounding the FIFA World Cup has reached the heart of Brazil's Amazon region, as residents of Manaus have transformed a downtown street into a colorful celebration ahead of the tournament's kickoff.
A festive atmosphere now surrounds Rua 3, a popular street in the city center, where local residents have decorated the area with the flags of all 48 nations participating in the World Cup. The vibrant display stretches across the roadway, while hundreds of paper flags suspended overhead create a colorful canopy for visitors and football fans.
The preparations have turned the street into a popular gathering place, with Brazilian music filling the air and residents eagerly counting down to the start of the tournament on June 11.
Leading the artistic effort is visual artist Aldri Castro, who said weather conditions initially delayed the project.
“We could not finish the work because of the rain. But now that summer has arrived, we can complete the decorations and proudly show our support for the Brazilian national team,” Castro said.
Local children have also become part of the celebrations, helping adults hang decorations and playing football in the street while tourists and residents stop to take photographs of the colorful scene.
Pedro da Silva, one of the organizers of the Rua 3 festivities, said the decorated street will serve as a community gathering point throughout the tournament.
According to organizers, local residents plan to watch Brazil's matches together beneath the colorful flags and decorations.
Brazil will begin its World Cup campaign against Morocco in a Group C encounter scheduled for June 13, with supporters in Manaus hoping the festive spirit will accompany the national team on a successful tournament run.
END/SMA/AJ
