Brazil cuts ribbon on new subway line crucial for Olympics

RIO DE JANEIRO — Brazilian officials have held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a much-delayed $3 billion subway expansion in Rio de Janeiro less than a week before the Olympic Games begin.

Line 4 of the subway is billed as Rio's most important infrastructure project linked to the Olympics. It will transport hundreds of thousands of athletes and fans between the city's iconic beaches and Barra da Tijuca, home to most sporting venues.

Officials taking part in yesterday's ceremony rode a subway train through nearly 10 miles of tunnels that were bored underneath the city's verdant hills over the past six years.

The line will begin carrying athletes, staff members and ticket holders on Monday, and be open to the general public after the Olympics are over.