The Financial Times has partnered with Google in it's first major VR project.

The project is entitled 'Hidden Cities: Rio', and combines Google's technology with the global knowledge of FT Weekend journalists.

The aim is to give readers a fresh perspective on some of the world's cultural and political capitals.

Hidden Cities: Rio coincides with the start of the summer Olympic Games in Rio.

It is the first in the 'Hidden Cities' series to include a VR element.

Hidden Cities: Rio is a free experience, and is viewable across devices with Google Cardboard, which was distributed with The FT.

Natalie Whittle, FT Weekend Magazine associate editor and editorial lead on Hidden Cities, said: “This project was a very rich and exciting one to work on – we not only had a chance to look closely at Rio de Janeiro through the eyes of our correspondents and photojournalists on the ground, but also to explore how 360 video can be used to extend the insightful access that we always strive to give our readers.”

Sian Cox-Brooker, News and Publishers Manager for Europe, Middle East and Africa at Google, said: “Hidden Cities Rio is a good example of how technology and journalism can work together. This project builds on our mutual strengths–Google’s technology, combined with FT’s editorial depth–to help people discover Rio’s hidden gems.”