In their heyday, the ancient Olympics before Macedonian warlords and Roman politicians sullied them had more in common with one of today's free open-air music festivals than with the corporate carnival planned for London this year.

WSJ: The Ancient Olympics: Mud, Sex, Hymns...Sports Too

For 200 years, this community has been identified with the rhythmic music of dances and percussion performed during carnival.

UNESCO: International Fund for Cultural Diversity

Frevo is a Brazilian artistic expression comprising music and dance, performed mainly during the Carnival of Recife.

UNESCO: MEDIA SERVICES

Alana was at high school, Este studying "Brazilian carnival music" at UCLA and Danielle was on the road with Cee-Lo Green.

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But there are also efforts to restore the lifestyle of Carnival in Rio, a tradition of street culture and music, rather than just an annual bonanza, and connecting Rio's favelas closer to its beaches through cable cars.

CNN: Is Brazil ready to take sporting center stage?