Dezeen Magazine

Rio 2016 Olympics and Paralympics venues photographed by Leonardo Finotti

Rio 2016: explore the stadiums and arenas poised to host events during this month's Olympic games in these images by Brazilian photographer Leonardo Finotti (+ slideshow).

All eyes are on Rio de Janeiro as it gets set to put on the world's biggest sporting event.

Tennis Centre, Barra Olympic Park, by Blac Arquitetura
Tennis Centre, Barra Olympic Park, by Blac Arquitetura

Following Friday night's opening ceremony, two weeks of competitions will be held in venues across the city in four main locations.

Many will then come back to life for the Paralympic games in September.

Olympic Golf Course by Rua Arquitectos
Olympic Golf Course by Rua Arquitectos

The Barra Olympic Park, master planned by engineer and architecture giant Aecom on a lagoon peninsula, crams in nine stadiums for 13 different events. These include the colourful Tennis Center by Braziliam firm Blac Arquitetura and three interlinked indoor arenas for basketball, wrestling and martial arts by Arqhos Consultoria e Projetos.

Nearby, the Olympic Golf Course features a rainwater-collection canopy by Rio studio Rua Arquitetos.

National Shooting Center, Deodoro Olympic Park, by BCMF Arquitetos
National Shooting Center, Deodoro Olympic Park, by BCMF Arquitetos

Over at the Deodoro Olympic Park to the north-west, Brazil's Vigliecca and Associados has created multiple venues for sports including rugby, horse riding, rugby and BMX.

Here, hockey matches will take place on blue and green pitches, and canoeists will slalom down a purpose-designed course.

Handball Arena, Barra Olympic Park, by Lopes, Santos & Ferreira Gomes and AndArchitects
Handball Arena, Barra Olympic Park, by Oficina de Arquitetos; Lopes, Santos & Ferreira Gomes; and AndArchitects

Some of the venues are being reused from the 2007 Pan American Games, such as the National Shooting Center by BCMF Arquitetos. Others were designed with legacy in mind – the handball arena will be dismantled and rebuilt as four schools after the games.

A selection events will be based in the Copacabana and Maracana areas of Rio, while the football tournament will unfold across Brazil in many of the same venues used for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

The Rio 2016 Olympics take place from 5 to 21 August, and the Paralympics will be held from 7 to 18 September.