It was still just before 9 am this Saturday (4), when dozens of people rushed to position themselves on the railing in front of the stage. show by singer Madonna, which starts at 9:45 pm.
The space was kept isolated, by fences, since the beginning of the assembly work on the megastructure, erected on the sands of Copacabana beach, in the south zone of the city of Rio de Janeiro, to mark the end of the North American artist’s world tour.
Argentine tourist Gloria González had kept her place close to the fences since Friday night (3). She arrived in Rio in the middle of the week, especially to follow the show of the singer, of those who are fans but who have never seen it live.
Even after the walls were removed, security still maintained a cordon. When they allowed fans to approach the railing, the most attentive were able to run ahead and position themselves better. Gloria was distracted and ended up arriving later. Luckily, the Argentinian made friends with a Brazilian who managed to reserve a place where they could both lean against the railing.
Argentine tourist Glória González in front of the stage while waiting for Madonna’s show. Photograph: Tomaz Silva/Agência Brasil
“We’re going to stay here until show time, because it’s probably my last chance to see you. Afterwards, I don’t know where she will perform or if she will perform again”, said the tourist, who protected herself from the already strong sun with a black hat, which read “Madonna in Rio: I went”.
Minas Gerais fan Adriana Cruzeiro came to Rio de Janeiro with her husband on a chartered bus. He arrived around 5:30 in the morning and already found a seat next to the railings, which are not even that close to the stage, since there is a VIP area, to which access is restricted to guests of the organizers, in the middle of the way.
“I’m willing to stay here until the end, because I’ll never have another opportunity like this in my life. I came with my husband and three of his employees. Let’s take turns here, to hold the place until the showbut after a certain time, I think it will be impossible to leave here.”
Tourist George Oliveira in front of the stage while waiting for Madonna’s show, which is scheduled for tonight (04). Photograph: Tomaz Silva/Agência Brasil
George Oliveira, from São Paulo, doesn’t insist on being glued to the railing, but he had already reserved a place, along with his boyfriend and friends, nearby. Your strategy for seeing Madonna up close? A pair of binoculars he borrowed from his brother. “I want to see her singing, moving her mouth. If I can see this with binoculars, I’ve already made my day”, says the hopeful fan.
Another strategy used to better view the stage is to stand on a stool. Street vendor Adálisson Pereira announced the sale of the bench, nicknamed “Madonna’s cabin”, for R$40. “I’ve already sold more than 100 since yesterday. For now the price is R$40, but it will rise closer to the show”.
Show
The city of Rio de Janeiro estimates an audience of 1.5 million this Saturday night, in Copacabana. The singer’s show, which starts at 9:45 pm, will last two hours. The event will open with DJ Barata, starting at 6:45 pm, and Diplo, at 8 pm, on a secondary stage, located close to the main one. Right after the show by Madonna, there will be a performance by DJ Pedro Sampaio.
More than 3,000 police officers must guarantee security at the event, which will feature checkpoints and facial recognition cameras. The neighborhood will be closed to private vehicles from 6pm and to buses and taxis from 7:30pm. The best options to get to show are the subway and buses.
