on ash wednesday after carnival, rio de janeiro holds her breath to hear out the 40 judges give out their votes for each element of each samba school - assigning a score, and explaining the reason for their mark.

many radio stations in rio broadcast live the reading of the scores, and groups of cariocas can be seen in the countless corner bars listening and debating - or screaming.

then - the winners are announced, and invited to parade once again, and the champions' parade takes place in the sambódromo the saturday after carnival - this parade, called the desfile dos campeões, is a much loved and highly anticipated event amongst the city's cariocas.