The arrival of the Olympic torch in Rio on Wednesday was marred by mass demonstrations over the cost of the Games and Rio has 88,000 security personnel – military and police – deployed during the Games to ensure a safe environment. But certainly, the grand Samba dance or the unbelievable Amazon rainforest will be on display to kickstart the 31st Summer Games.
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The survey found that a strong majority of Canadians (69 per cent) say that if a friend or family member hypothetically qualified for the Rio games for an open-water event they would like to see that person stay home rather than risk the polluted waters. Despite the current economic condition in Brazil, the show is likely to be a display of how good or modern Brazil has evolved in recent decades.
Temer’s only bilateral meeting will be with Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, though he may encounter Shinzo Abe of Japan after the closing ceremony, the government official said. It is one of the best kept secrets of the Games along with who will light the cauldron, which is anyway not like the big structure with huge flames.
Former Brazilian women’s volleyball player, Maria Isabel Barroso Salgado, lifted the flame beneath the outstretched arms of the giant statue of Christ that overlooks Rio’s Guanabara bay.
It is one of the most recognisable landmarks in the world, towering over one the of the great cities – which this month hosts the Olympics.
Samba and pop music singers are expected to perform, including Grammy award winners Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil.
Rio 2016 marks Lauer’s fifth time working the primetime Opening Ceremony, and he is working his 11th Olympics for TODAY.
“Not one team underwent such strict requirements as Russian athletes”, he told a news conference in Rio.
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The British team will hope they can have a record-breaking “away” Games by topping the 47-medal haul in Beijing and will look to the likes of London 2012 “Super Saturday” trio Mo Farah, Jessica Ennis-Hill and Greg Rutherford, plus swimmer Adam Peaty, sailor Giles Scott, boxer Nicola Adams and cyclists Laura Trott, Chris Froome and Lizzie Armitstead to lead the quest for gold.
