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.
Advertisement
The 36-year-old Brazilian supermodel returned to her native country to kick off the games with a handsome tribute as she walked across a never-ending runway.
But Brazil also packaged its party with solemnity, lacing the fun and frivolous show with sobering messages about global warming and conservation.
The pre-ceremony protest followed ugly scenes on Thursday that marred the Olympic torch’s arrival in the Brazilian city.
Next was how Brazil came into existence from the time it was named after a tree to the migratory movements of Germans, Spaniards, Syrians, the Lebanese through a feature titled “Geometrization”.
The crowd roared when Bundchen – the Brazilian supermodel and wife of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady – sashayed from one side of the 78,000-seat Maracana Stadium to the other, as Tom Jobim’s grandson, Daniel, played his grandfather’s famous song about the Ipanema girl “tall and tan and young and lovely”. Carioca funk, rap, Maracatu (or typical folk dance of Pernambuco with origins in Portuguese, Indigenous and African cultures), Bate-Bolas or carnival dance, fire sword battle of Cruz Das Almas ensured that the world was treated to something special.
“Olympics will prosper peace”.
Bach told the crowd we are in a world of crisis mistrust and uncertainty. Call it the Austerity Olympics – except in one way. At his fifth and last Olympics, it was the first time the record holder of 22 medals had marched in an opening ceremony, having skipped previous ones to save energy for competition.
Bach added that in this Olympic world, “we are all equal” – words that were met with applause.
The Rio Olympics officially launched Friday with its opening ceremony, a massive production that has come to mark the beginning of every Olympics.
The infraction could happen during the Parade of Nations. You are sending a message of hope to all the millions. Because of violence, hunger or just because you’re different.
Organizing committee spokesman Mario Andrada said Saturday measures were being taken to prevent a repeat of the long lines to enter parts of the Olympic Park by enhancing the entry systems.
“Our admiration is even greater because you managed this at a very hard time in Brazilian history”.
Controversies, from the banning of Russian athletes for doping to the myriad of domestic issues that had plagued Brazil, had dominated much of the build-up to the Rio Games but these were all put aside temporarily as Brazil sambaed the night away.
The cauldron in central Rio is expected to be lit by a runner after the opening ceremony is finished, Howe said.
Advertisement
Former tennis star Gustavo Kuerten brought the flame into the stadium and passed it on to ex-basketballer Hortencia Marcari, then De Lima took center stage.
