Maracana Stadium in Brazil among sporting venues being converted into hospitals - in pics

Cities across the world are making use of existing infrastructure to tackle the pandemic

The Maracana Complex in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, will host an emergency makeshift hospital for coronavirus patients with a capacity of 900 beds. Getty Images

Aerial view of a temporary field hospital set up for coronavirus patients at the Maracana Stadium. Brazilian health authorities have turned part of the complex into a field hospital to face the coronavirus pandemic. AFP

A temporary field hospital set up for coronavirus patients at Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. AFP

Men work in the construction of a temporary field hospital for coronavirus patients at Maracana Stadium. AFP

A temporary field hospital is being constructed for coronavirus patients at Maracana Stadium complex in Brazil. AFP

A woman stands next to the closed gates of the main entrance of the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. AFP

Aerial view of a temporary field hospital set up for coronavirus patients at Maracana Stadium. AFP

A field hospital is set up by Rio de Janeiro state government at the Maracana Stadium. Reuters

Construction workers inside the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. EPA

A field hospital is set up by Rio de Janeiro state government at the Maracana Stadium. Reuters

Maracana Complex in Rio de Janeiro. Getty Images

Volunteers of "Panama Solidarity Plan" loading bags with food on a pick-up truck to deliver the aid to low-income families at the Maracana Stadium in Panama City. AFP

Members of Panama's National Border service wear face masks as they assist volunteers of "Panama Solidarity Plan" at Maracana Stadium in Panama City. AFP

Volunteers of "Panama Solidarity Plan" load bags with food at Maracana Stadium in Panama City. AFP

Lima 2019 Athletes' Village has now been converted into a medical facility in Peru. Getty Images

Lima 2019 Pan American Games Athletes' Village has been converted into a medical facility with 900 beds installed. The village can host up to 3,000 patients if required. Getty Images

A security guard awaits authorisation to give a man access to the Lima 2019 Athletes' Village, which is now a medical facility. Getty Images

Handout picture released by Peru's Health Ministry of the Pan American Games Athletes' Village in Lima, which is now a hospital. AFP

Handout picture released by Peru's Health Ministry of a lift at the village which housed athletes during the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima. AFP

The Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro is one of many sporting venues across the world being used as medical centres in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

The venue, which staged the Olympic opening and closing ceremonies in 2016, is set to have a field hospital to host patients carrying the virus.

The facility, built in the car park surrounding the 80,000 capacity stadium, will have 400 beds and be one of eight temporary facilities set up across Rio de Janeiro.

The Maracana is one of several stadiums being used across Brazil. The Pacaembu stadium in Sao Paulo has started building a field hospital on the pitch where Corinthians and Santos often play and the National stadium in Brasilia is being similarly utilised.

Elsewhere, the athletes' village used for the 2019 Pan-American Games in Peru has been converted into a coronavirus medical facility, while the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi, the athletics venue for the 2010 Commonwealth Games, is set to be converted into a quarantine facility.