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Rio archdiocese seeks funds to restore Christ the Redeemer statue

Xinhua, December 9, 2016 Adjust font size:

The Archdiocese of Rio de Janeiro is seeking donations to restore the famous Christ the Redeemer statue, which is one of the city's main attractions, local media reported Thursday.

Standing atop the Corcovado mountain, Christ the Redeemer is heavily exposed to rain, wind and sun, and thus needs frequent restoration, which costs 5 million reais (1.47 million U.S. dollars) a year.

While the archdiocese looks after the statue, it does not receive any money from the site's entrance fees. Tickets for adults cost 70 reais (20.5 U.S. dollars) but the proceeds go to the Tijuca National Park, the environmental reserve in which the statue is located.

According to Brazil's Globo TV, the money that has already been collected is not sufficient for restoring the monument.

The formal money collection campaign will kick off on Dec. 13 and will primarily target businesses as well as religious people.

The statue was inaugurated in 1931. It was restored in 2014, ahead of the massive influx of tourists during the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympic Games. Endi