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Watch Rio’s Olympic Park Rise in Rio in 3 Dramatic GIFs

1 minute read
By Mahita Gajanan and TIME Photo

The staggering effort that went into building the venues for the 2016 Olympics, which kicked off in Rio de Janeiro Friday, took years of construction.

Despite numerous setbacks and concerns that the many of the venues would not be ready in time for Friday’s opening ceremony, the Games have generally run smoothly so far.

Take a look at dramatic before-and-after footage as the Corinthians Arena, the Olympics golf course and the Barra Olympic Park rise in the GIFs below.

Corinthians Arena in São Paulo, Brazil, from May 2009 to June 2016.
Corinthians Arena in São Paulo, Brazil, from May 2009 to June 2016.DigitalGlobe 2016; Gif by Marisa Gertz for TIME

 

The Corinthians Arena, built for the 2014 World Cup, will serve as one of seven soccer venues for the 2016 Olympics.

A golf course built for the Olympics in Rio, Brazil, from March 2012 to Feb. 2016.
A golf course built for the Olympics in Rio, Brazil, from March 2012 to Feb. 2016.DigitalGlobe 2016; Gif by Marisa Gertz for TIME

The golf course, located about 3 miles from the Olympic Village, was designed specifically for the 2016 Games.

Barra Olympic Park in Rio, Brazil, from May 2013 to June 2016.
Barra Olympic Park in Rio, Brazil, from May 2013 to June 2016.DigitalGlobe 2016; Gif by Marisa Gertz for TIME

The Barra Olympic Park is the center of the games, with nine venues hosting 16 Olympic and 9 Paralympic sports.

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Write to Mahita Gajanan at mahita.gajanan@time.com