Get Set for the Road to Rio

Rio 2016 is approaching

The 2016 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games will be held in Brazil

From the United Kingdom travel south-west, across the vast expanse of the Atlantic Ocean, and you will arrive at South America, the fourth largest continent on planet Earth.

Located almost entirely in the southern hemisphere its 13 countries offer visitors a rich variety of places to see and things to do.

Explore the Andes, the longest continuous mountain range in the world, stretching almost the entire length of South America. Exploring South America. Avoiding the Anacondas, travel the Amazon, the second longest river in the world, as it passes through the largest rainforest on the planet.

Visit the ancient city of Machu Picchu and marvel at the ruins of this once thriving Inca Empire. Spend lazy days on one of the many beaches of South America. On the west coast, swim in the Pacific Ocean – or try surfing the Atlantic rollers of the east coast. Exploring South America.

The largest country in South America is Brazil. It occupies almost half the land mass of the entire continent. It is to this country that the world will be welcomed to the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the first to be held anywhere in South America.

With its beautiful beaches and spectacular countryside, the host city, Rio de Janeiro, is being transformed to welcome the athletes, spectators, volunteers, coaches, support staff and officials to the Rio 2016 Games.

Further afield, Brasilia, the capital city of Brazil, along with San Paulo, Belo Horizonte and Salvador are making preparations to host Olympic football matches.

Others cities in Brazil are also preparing for the arrival of athletes to their pre-Games training camps. Team GB and ParalympicsGB have chosen to base themselves in the city of Belo Horizonte.

Across Brazil, teams of workers and volunteers are working together to plan for the Games.

Construction workers, engineers and designers are creating 37 modern, exciting, safe competition venues for the 42 sports that will be contested.

The Olympic Village is being built to accommodate 10,500 athletes from around the world.

The dancers, musicians and entertainers will soon be busy rehearsing their performances for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies.

Over 70,000 volunteers are being selected and trained to undertake many different roles during the Games, including teams of caterers, cleaners, drivers, interpreters, technologists, communication experts and many others.

All around the world the athletes too are busy preparing for the Games. Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are training hard to qualify for Team GB and ParalympicsGB.

Olympic and Paralympic superstars will be competing against stars of the future to gain their places in Team GB and ParalympicsGB.

Look out for the stars of the London 2012 Games who are hoping to qualify for the Rio 2016 Games.

Here are our Team GB and ParalympicsGB ones to watch for the Rio 2016 Games – they are all busy training and competing to try and gain a spot on the team.

The Team GB and ParalympicsGB hopefuls face a massive challenge to make it to Rio Now it’s time to find out if you are up to a team challenge…

Here’s the challenge: can you and your team travel the 9,298km distance from London to Rio doing sports and games? Who will get there first

Use the Road to Rio app to keep track of how far you have got. Compete against other teams and other schools and see if you can make the epic journey to Rio.

Get Set for Rio 2016!