The indigenous population in Brazil was sparsely scattered when Portuguese explorer Pedro Cabral arrived in 1500, marking the beginning of Brazil's colonial period. Over the next two centuries, other European powers like Britain and France attempted to establish colonies in Brazil, drawn by its abundant natural resources and vast untouched lands. In modern times, Brazil faced challenges hosting the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, as the Joao Havelange stadium constructed for the athletics events was deemed unsafe and indefinitely closed until structural issues could be resolved.

1. BRAZIL
By Xavier and John

3. HISTORY OF BRAZIL
The indigenous population in Brazil
was widely scattered when Admiral
Pedro Cabral, a Portuguese explorer,
reached the coast of Brazil on April
22, 1500. In Brazilian history during
the first two centuries of the colonial
period, other European powers took a
stab at establishing their own colonies
in several areas of Brazilian territory.
There was a major attraction to the
abundant natural resources and
massive area of virgin land.

4. Castle Tarrago

5. RIO OLYMPICS 2016
The Joao Havelange stadium - due to host
the athletics during the Games - will be
"closed indefinitely" until the matter is
resolved, the City's mayor, Eduardo Paes,
said.
After being informed of the problems, Paes
said he asked if they represented a risk for
fans.
"The answer was yes," Paes said in remarks
quoted by the O Globo newspaper.
"We cannot play around with an issue like
this."
The stadium will not be used for the
Confederations Cup in June or the 2014
World Cup.