Top o’ the world, ma! And top of the World Cup too. Yes, I finally did it.

About 100 people returning from a visit to Christ the Redeemer statue on top of Rio de Janeiro’s Corcovado mountain were stranded for close to two hours when the train they were riding broke down.

Rio de Janeiro’s landscape, marked by soaring granite facades that drop into the ocean and white-sand beaches that go on for miles, is now an official world heritage site, Unesco announced.

Abbey Travel has packaged a five-night trip which combines magical Rio de Janeiro and the Iguassu Falls.

Two Olympians, a national swimming record holder and a champion hang glider will represent Ireland in an international sports event in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil next month.