PELE has been invited to light the Olympic pyre for the Rio Games tomorrow but the Brazilian soccer great is checking with his sponsors to see if he is free to lead the torch ceremony in the Maracana Stadium.
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The second game in Group A takes place later on Wednesday when home side Brazil, seeking their first Olympic gold after two silver medal performances, take on China.
The opening action at Rio’s Olympic stadium was lacklustre with few clear chances.
Sweden’s women claimed the first victory of the Olympic football tournament 1-0 over South Africa as Rio 2016 got off to an underwhelming start on Wednesday.
Police used tear gas to break up protests against salary delays for public workers.
Ticket sales are an important generator of revenue for a city where around $12 billion has been spent preparing for the Games.
For 70-year-old poet Jorge Salomao, the Games will help Brazilians forget, for a moment at least, that they are facing their worst recession since the 1930s and that suspended President Dilma Rousseff is on the cusp of being ousted by an impeachment trial expected to end right after the Olympics close on August 21.
The women’s football tournament launches what Brazilian fans hope will be a golden campaign for their men’s and women’s teams, who have never won an Olympic title.
Concerned with the rash of attacks in Europe, Brazil beefed up security in Rio ahead of the Games, which have been marred by political turmoil, economic crisis and the spread of the Zika virus in the host nation.
In the final game of the day in Belo Horizonte, France cruised past Colombia 4-0 to take the group lead over the Americans. It was settled by veteran defender Nilla Fischer opening her third Olympics by scoring in the 75th minute. Lei became China’s first male foil Olympic champion four years ago in London.
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Canada had to cope from the 19th minute with only 10 women after Shelina Zadorsky was sent off for dragging down Michelle Heyman on her way to goal. But Canada still prevented Australia from equalizing and captain Christine Sinclair added a second in the 78th.
