These children, mostly from the favelas, will be squeezed in to watch the Blitzbokke play in the Sevens.
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Even some athletes tweeted about having to create DIY amenities.. While Cariocas trust that the event will be a success, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) didn’t spare criticism of Rio’s lack of preparation for the biggest event in sports. It will also be the first time for Kosovo and South Sudan to participate in the Games. When an injured athlete is helped across the finish line by a competitor, when displays of global co-operation and sportsmanship turn athletes into role models, the games become worth far more than their weight in scandal. According to the Associated Press, the event won’t address issues of political turmoil or the country’s recession, but will call attention to the environment and the Amazon rainforest.
As pointed out by Barry Petchesky in a piece from Deadspin, Brazil promised $1 billion dollars in water improvements in its bid in 2009 but those improvements “simply never happened”. We know that the Maracana stadium is a long way from [the Olympic village], but I encourage all athletes to participate because it will be a magnificent experience. “And what better venue to do it than the opening ceremonies?”.
Rio will seek to put that behind it on Friday when fireworks light up the night sky above the Maracana. On the team are two swimmers from Syria, an Ethiopian marathoner, two judokas from Congo and five runners from South Sudan, according to the Washington Post. While the various competitions are always fun to watch, there’s nothing quite like the spectacle of an Olympic opening ceremony.
The surprise message was aimed at Michel Temer, Brazil’s former vice president who is now the acting president while President Dilma Rousseff awaits the outcome of her impeachment trial.
Kerri Walsh Jennings won’t have Misty May-Treanor with her in the sand in Rio, and it’s the first time the American volleyball player will compete with anyone else at the Olympics.
Two more star performers will be Gilberto Gil and Caetano Veloso who were exiled from Brazil in the 1960s when the country was ruled under a dictatorship.
Worries over readiness of the infrastructure have dogged the game for weeks, but Brazilian officials said they were ready to open the games with full fanfare and every requirement in place.
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To truly capture the spirit of the country, the Rio Olympics opening ceremony will highlight themes of sustainability, Brazilian culture like Carnivale, and the country’s strength to keep moving forward.
