THE ROLLING STONES KEEP ON ROLLING!

Rio ready for Rolling Stones gig.

Stage preparations have been underway for days.
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Rio de Janeiro is gearing up to welcome almost two million people to Copacabana Beach for a free Rolling Stones gig. The massive concert - featuring a huge stage with eight video screens and 16 sound towers - will be one of the biggest the world has ever seen. It is the third time the Rolling Stones have performed in Brazil but the first time they have played for free.
About 10,000 police officers will be on duty for the show which is part of the Stones' A Bigger Bang world tour.

They will patrol the slums around the beach to safeguard the trouble-prone area of the city, officials said. Marcelo Itagiba, Rio de Janeiro's State Public Security Secretary, said everything will be done to prevent violence and theft during Saturday's show. "I don't think the venue is ideal either from the point of view of security or tranquillity for residents," he said.

The city is paying $750,000 (£432,000) for the gig, which takes place just a week before Rio's famous carnival. Fans in the US will be able to listen to the show on radio and on the internet and also in more than 150 cinema screens across the country. Saturday's crowd may not be as big as that at Rod Stewart's 1994 concert, also at Copacabana beach, which drew a crowd of 3.5 million.

BBC NEWS REPORT.