MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Samba school Salgueiro crowned Rio Carnival champs

Samba school Salgueiro was crowned champion of Rio's fiercely competitive Carnival parades on Wednesday, knocking off a powerhouse rival and overcoming a shooting that left three dead outside its headquarters just months ago.

Salgueiro's parade theme centered on the history of the "drum" and its importance to music in various cultures. An army of 4,100 marched alongside ornate floats featuring prehistoric beasts ridden by cavemen. The school scored 399 points out of a possible 400 to win its ninth title and first since 1993. In second place with 398 points was Beija-Flor, which had won five of the previous six years and edged out Salgueiro in 2008. "It's a huge win. Salgueiro really needed this victory," said a crying school president Regina Celia Duran. "Salgueiro is a family, and we are now all very happy." Brazilians spent hours glued to their televisions, screaming in joy and groaning with disappointment, as judges announced scores for the schools' floats, costumes and how well they moved through the half-mile Sambadrome stadium. Thousands jammed each school's headquarters, most of which are housed in Rio's hardscrabble outskirts. At Salgueiro in the Tijuca neighbourhood, fans decked out in the school's red and white colors hugged, jumped up and down and cried in disbelief as their win became clear. Schools spend upward of $2.5 million to create lavish 80-minute parades. A win brings a trophy, possible sponsorships and bragging rights ? but no cash. Rio's Carnival officially ended Wednesday, but several large parties are still scheduled through the weekend. The top six finishing samba schools get to march again on Saturday in a champions' parade. Officials had expected nearly 720,000 tourists to flock to the city's Carnival and pump $521 million into the local economy. (AP)