One man was decked out in apparel that donned the Brazilian flag, a couple from Texas was there to volunteer, and United States undercover agents were walking around monitoring the area in an effort to keep Americans safe.Although I didn’t actually have tickets to the opening ceremony (they cost upwards of 2,000 US dollars!), I was able to watch it on a TV in one of Rio’s many bars.
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But with more than a dash of “gambiarra”, the Brazilian art of quick-fixes and making do, Rio de Janeiro is ready.
Brazil’s interim President Michel Temer declared open the first Games ever in South America.
While the opening sequence of the ceremony included a nod to “Gambiarra” – the Brazilian talent for making something great out of nearly nothing – public anger Friday focused on the level of spending on the Games.
As Brazilian officials took their places, there were shouts of “out with Temer” from sections of the crowd.
Greece, the historical and spiritual home of the games, led the march by athletes from 205 nations and territories into the stadium. Their flag-bearer, Rose Nathike Lokonyen, fled war in South Sudan and ran her first race in a refugee camp in northern Kenya.
Michael Phelps leads out Team USA. He’s slated to compete in three individual events here.
They initially looked a sizable unit as they paraded their way around the Maracana in striking yellow and green tracksuits (most of the other nations went for a more formal look), but as the participating countries continued rolling out Team South Africa began to look smaller and smaller as the ground filled up with athletes.
While it escaped a blanket ban, Russian Federation is paying the price in the shape of a smaller team, whittled down from a 389 athletes to around 270.
The Russian team was led into the stadium by flag bearer Sergei Tetiukhin, who is on the men’s volleyball team.
Due to Brazil’s most intense security operation ever, some among the 50,000 attendees faced two-hour-long lines as Brazil staged its most intense security operation ever.
Reports earlier Friday suggested that football legend Pele was too fragile to take part. The world is threatened because of global warming. “We are calling for action”, said Fernando Meirelles, one of the directors of the show.
While London and Russian Federation focused a lot of their attention on potential terrorist threats, Rio’s State Secretary of Security Jose Beltrame said terrorist threats aren’t a huge concern during the 2016 Olympics.
The cauldron was designed by American sculptor Anthony Howe, who told The Associated Press he was inspired by life in the tropics.
In a speech during the opening ceremony at the Maracana stadium, Nuzman said the Olympic spirit could help the country overcome its economic and political problems.
“It’s not a sports competition”, a NBC Sports spokesperson said in a statement emailed to Reuters during the ceremony.
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The creative minds behind the opening ceremony were determined to put on a show that would not offend a country in dire economic straits but would showcase the famously upbeat nature of Brazilians.
