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5 Of The Coolest Olympic Venues In Rio

    Rio 2016

    The Rio 2016 Olympics will dominate headlines the next several weeks as the games take off Aug. 6 and run through Aug. 21.

    While most people will be focusing on the amazing athletic talent that came to compete from around the world, Bisnow is checking out Brazil's awesome 32 venues—some of which were built specifically for the Olympics. Here are the top five. 

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    Copacabana Beach Volleyball

    Beach Volleyball Rio

    Year built: 2016

    Events: Beach Volleyball

    First event: Aug. 6

    This massive all-things-beach-volleyball stadium is, unbelievably, only temporary. But that's because it's built right on the sands of Copacabana, what many consider the sport's spiritual home in Brazil.

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    Maracanã Stadium

    Rio maracana

    Year built: 1948

    Events: Soccer, opening and closing ceremonies

    First event: Aug. 6

    Built for the 1950 World Cup, where 199,854 people flooded in to see the opening game (the most ever at that point), Maracanã Stadium is a well-known Brazilian landmark. It was modernized for the 2014 World Cup and in the Rio Olympics it will host the most important soccer matches, including all finals.

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    Olympic BMX Centre

    BMX Rio

    Year built: 2016

    Events: BMX Cycling

    First event: Aug. 17

    Built specifically for Rio 2016, this BMX park wasn't designed to make it easy for riders—a series of ramps and sharp turns will test the best of Olympic ability. At more than 1,300 feet long, this obstacle course will be an intense post-Olympics legacy for future cyclists.

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    Olympic Golf Course

    Rio olympic golf course

    Year built: 2016

    Events: Golf

    First event: Aug. 11

    This golf course is the setting for the sport's return to the Olympics after more than a century hiatus. It was built especially for the Rio Olympics and is part of an environmental recovery project.

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    Whitewater Stadium

    Rio Olympics Whitewater

    Year built: 2016

    Events: Canoe Slalom

    First event: Aug. 7

    Whitewater Stadium is one of the most technically complex Rio 2016 venues, complete with a long line of slalom rapids to be navigated by both canoe and kayak. The course holds over 6.5 million gallons of water in its two courses: one for the competitions and one for training.

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