Obama will be visting Rio and giving a speech in centro, in front of the Theatro Municipal (right by metro station Cinelandia) this Sunday. The exact time has not yet been disclosed, but it appears to be between 12:30 - 3:30pm.

There will also be a show, Ivete Sangalo, Seu Jorge, and a couple of other famous singers.

I'll probably head over there...would be cool to see Obama in Rio and maybe have a chance to take a few photos.

it is widely rumored that he will annouce the end of the visa requirements for Brazilians to visit the US.

This is not a political post, so please do not hijack this thread with nonsense.

LM,

please keep the board updated to when the visa requirement and any reciprocity might occur.

Thanks, CFK

CFK won't affect me or your girls! I have been flying your girlfriends from Rio to Medellin for the last 3 years so then can have some quality time with "Lil Hempy"! Primarily your "BLONDES"! - Hemp

Part of the agreement would include full reciprocity on the Brasilian side, so no more visa requirements for US citizens if Brasil is added to visa-waiver. All of the EU countries are now on reciprocal visa-waiver terms with Brasil, as of February.

I don't know if that's something they would announce this weekend or not. I'm sure there will be announcements that TAM or GOL are buying some Boeing planes, some talk about loosening import restrictions on sugar and ethanol from Brasil and electronics and cars from the US, the usual stuff when the President travels.

Wonder how long it will take one of the locals to mistake Michelle for a travesti.

Word on the street in Rio is, the speech will no longer be public. Guesses are the Secret Service took one look at Cinelandia and said, "Ummmmm, no." The speech will now be indoors with limited access. At least that's what the Brazilians are telling me.

Yup, you are right -> http://g1.globo.com/obama-no-brasil/noticia/2011/03/comercio-podera-abrir-na-cinelandia-domingo-diz-prefeitura.html

Towards the end it states "Em vez de falar em público, em um palco montado na Cinelândia, o presidente americano vai discursar dentro do Theatro Municipal, para um público restrito. O motivo para a troca de local não foi divulgado."

Translates to "Instead of speaking in public on a stage set-up in Cinelandia, the president will speak in the Municipal Theatre to a limited audience. The reason for the change of location was not disclosed."

Some in town Tea Party nutjob might have raised security concerns and moved everything inside.

When I left my apartment this morning for my daily run, I saw two uniformed and armed military guys. I asked the doorman, what was up. He said that Obama is coming. I don't live anywhere near Cinelandia. Oh well.

If he still makes it. With Libya under the gun this afternoon, if we start shooting things up over there tonight he'll probably cancel.

If he going to a swing club with Michelle?

MM

I have spoken to a number of my friends on MSN today and they said the the Brasilian people are really dissapointed with Obama for not speaking publicly! What difference it would have made, I really dont know.

Side note: you guys will have a long wait if you think they are going to drop all visa requirements for brasilians. Keeping dreaming about Centaraus girls parading down your street if you want, it aint happening! LOL!

Probably better to leave some Brazilians dissappointed then Obama in some crosshairs. I do see one day those Centauraus (or for me preferably 4x4 or Llumos) girls being imported into the US for short visits :-)

Thumper, Brasil isn't on the development list for VWP for nothing. I don't think they'll announce anything this weekend, but I'm fairly confident that Brasil - along with Argentina and Uruguay - will be on VWP before too long.

Marvin, i agree with you. I mentioned to my friends "Lula didn't make public speeches in Rio! Why the fuck should my president do it?!" They didnt have a comeback for that one! LOL!

Catocony, we can agree to disagree:-)

Obama canceled earlier today the rest of his trip. He is not going to come to Rio at all. They did not give a reason, but I'm guessing it's this stupid war.

Globo just put up a dozen photos of his arrival at GIG. Politico has a running story how he's behind schedule due to calls with DoD and with foreign leaders, but Michelle and kids chilling at the Marriott right now.

I wonder why they are staying at the Marriott instead of the Copa Palace.

Because the only three American hotels in Rio are the Marriott and the two Sheratons. Barra is too far for their purposes and no way in hell are they staying at the foot of a favela at the Sheraton Leblon. It's standard protocol to stay at a US owned (or at least franchised) property if available, up to standards and can be secured.

(Message edited by catocony on March 19, 2011)

Saw the motorcade pass in Lagoa this morning.... he must be on the way to his speech.

When they just opened up the Rio JW Marriott, I was given the opportunity to visit the Presidential Suite. I found it a little small for its moniker, though it does have a great view of the beach and ocean. It had one of those long white single lens telescope (for viewing a***s?), and a treadmill.

Some of the Brasilian media mentioned him sleeping in the Presidential Suite. I doubt he would sleep there during his stay in Rio. To much of a precise location.

Like when Bush visited Sao Paulo, the State dept. rented out the whole Hilton Morumbi. He didn´t sleep in the that suite either.

From S.P.