The opening ceremony for the Rio Olympic games is expected to be different from others seen in the past. Here are a few things to be aware of.
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Through no fault of their own, the athletes who will march in massed, joyful ranks behind their nations’ flags in Friday night’s opening ceremony for the first Olympic Games in South America shoulder expectations beyond their own ambitions for gold, silver, bronze and personal bests.
Since the event can not avoid the issues that are gripping Brazil – a president facing impeachment, the Zika virus, a deep recession and environmental threats – organisers have made sure global warming and the environment, especially the country’s Amazon rainforest, are important parts of the show. That’s the take-home message from a coalition of human rights advocates and non government organizations that point to a host of foreseeable problems confronting Rio de Janeiro. In addition to those athletes, 119 Russian athletes have been banned from this year’s games. Supermodel Gisele Bundchen will also be on hand to promote her native Brazil.
Men’s team champions Italy have 2004 individual victor Marco Galiazzo in their ranks once again, while the Chinese women’s team will bid to end 12 years of heartbreak after finishing second to the Koreans at the last three Olympics. 21 of the world’s 50 most unsafe cities are in Brazil, and only four are in the United States.
Police killings in Rio jumped more than 100 percent in the past year, according to Amnesty International.
Workers rushed to install wiring and put up signs at venues as the Olympic flame made its way through the city of 6 million carried by a succession of sportsmen, stars and even a Nobel laureate, to cheers from thousands of residents who succumbed to the excitement of the Games.
More worrying for many competitors is the Zika virus as several top athletes including World number one Jason Day, Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy removed their names from Olympic consideration citing the risk of contracting the disease which can cause crippling birth defects. That money will employ 85,000 security personnel, twice as many as were used in London.
Andy Murray will lead Team GB’s charge into the cavernous Maracana stadium as the flag bearer, an honour the defending Olympic champion and two-time Wimbledon victor described as “by far the proudest moment of my professional career”.
The women’s team of Bombayla Devi Laishram, Laxmirani Majhi and Deepika Kumari will be a strong contender for a medal as the trio will look to finish well in the ranking round to get an easy draw. Phelps holds 22 medals, the most an Olympian has held in history.
The U.S. Men’s Basketball team has been synonymous with winning.
Olympic action is already under way. He has also led Spain to four Davis Cup titles and he became the youngest Open Era player to complete the career Grand Slam when he won the 2010 US Open at age 24.
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The Opening Ceremony takes place August 5 at 5 p.m. and can be seen on NBC.
