The Madrid Carnival began Friday with a sporting parade during which Baron de Coubertin, founder of the modern Olympics, was evoked in a procession around Madrid’s centre, which included fellow members of his Olympic Committee.
Athletes participated in the parade dressed in costumes from the Olympic yesteryear of 1896.
The carnival lasts for six days and is a popular annual event, culminating in the traditional Burial of the Sardine on Ash Wednesday.
Madrid 2016 CEO Mercedes Coghen said in a press release, “the Carnival is a fun event and shows how much we enjoy ourselves in Madrid. Taking our bid as a theme for the opening parade is a wonderful idea and we hope many citizens of Madrid will turn out to join in the celebration”.
