Rio Olympics becoming reality; bring cash for souvenirs

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) The Olympics will become a tangible reality on Friday, when one of its so-called ''Mega'' souvenir shops opens on Copacabana Beach. Bring

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) The Olympics will become a tangible reality on Friday, when one of its so-called ''Mega'' souvenir shops opens on Copacabana Beach.

Bring plenty of cash, at least for anything more than a keychain that sells for 25 Brazilian reals ($8). A commemorative gold medal will sell for around $2,000.

Olympic merchandising is big business.

Rio's head of licensing and retail sales, Sylmara Multini, says organizers hope to sell merchandise worth about 1 billion Brazilian reals ($310 million).

The 19,300 square-foot layout on Copacabana is one of three huge stores. The largest will be a store in the Olympic Park.