Rio cabbies offered free English courses to improve communication during Games

Taxi drivers in Rio de Janeiro have been offered free English courses to improve communication with tourists during next year's Olympics

Rio de Janeiro: Taxi drivers in Rio de Janeiro have been offered free English courses to improve communication with tourists during next year's Olympics.

Some 10,000 online courses will be provided to drivers under the plan, a joint initiative between Rio 2016, Radio Globo and the English First group, reported Xinhua.

Those who complete the course will receive a certificate of recognition from the ministry of eduction.

"When tourists arrive in Rio, taxi drivers are often the first local people to greet them," Rio 2016 head of engagement Mariana Behr told Rio2016.com.

"They can provide up to date information and share tips and advice. One year from now, our taxi drivers will host people from all corners of the world who come to Rio for the Games, and we want to help improve this dialogue."

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