Bolívar's Dream Stands out in Rio de Janeiro Carnival

Vila Isabel samba school was technically the most perfect group among the 14 schools participating in the costume and float parade


According to local and international media, the Vila Isabel samba school won the Rio de Janeiro Carnival contest last Wednesday, March 1. This school slogan was the Latin American integration and it showed a statue of Liberator Simón Bolívar in the parade.

This school was financed by PDVSA, as well as two Brazilian companies and one US company which paid for the manufacture of the eight floats. Vila Isabel samba school paraded with these floats along 2,789 ft long Marqués de Sapucaí Avenue.

The contest results were announced by the jury of this world costume event in the evening. This carnival has been celebrated for 60 years at the rhythm of samba.

A statue of Liberator Simón Bolívar stood out among Vila Isabel’s floats and it paraded along the Sambodromo as the greatest symbol of the Latin American integration, which is promoted by President of Venezuela, Hugo Chávez Frías.

Considered the allegoric representation of America’s union, the 43 ft. statue was the favorite for the 70,000 people situated along the avenue and thousands of people from around the world.

The slogan of the Vila Isabel Samba School - made up of 3,800 people – was dedicated to Latin America.

The float showing Simón Bolívar as hero of the Latin American union was one of the most cheered and it also showed statues of Latin American heroes like Eva Perón, Pablo Neruda, Ernesto “Che” Guevara, José Martí and Gabriel García Márquez.

The statue wore a blue jacket with golden epaulettes and it held a red heart on its hand symbolizing the love that led this independence hero to liberate and unite the peoples of the region. Such ideal is currently promoted by the Venezuelan head of state as part of his strategic plans for the development of Venezuela.

The Brazilian carnival finished last Tuesday, February 28. The different schools have already started recycling the materials and they will begin to get ready for next year’s carnival.

The group that promoted the Latin American union was the fifth school that went along the Sambodromo and finished the parade at dawn, when the Simón Bolívar float finished its stroll.

Venezuela - through PDVSA – systematically promotes this kind of initiative that encourages the integration of the Latin American peoples.

This integration does not only occur in the energy field, but also to promote the continent’s cultural values and to rescue the history of each country marked by the economic and social fight against the imperialist leanings.


Bolivarian News Agency/Venezolana de Televisión/Translated by Cesar Torres