A enormous green peace symbol dangled over the centre of the arena, before a dazzling projection depicted the birth of the Amazon rainforest. But in a display of the deep political divisions plaguing Brazil, he was jeered by some in the crowd at the famed Maracana soccer stadium.
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That gave way to an exuberant, joyous party which encompassed Brazil’s breathtakingly diverse musical and cultural traditions.
A memorable skit showed the rise of a metropolis, complete with roof-hopping parkour groups. Next in the spotlight was powered-flight pioneer Alberto Santos-Dumont, the first man to take off with a heavier-than-air machine, who was shown soaring majestically in his plane, the 14 Bis, over night-time Rio.
Brazil’s most-famous song, Girl from Ipanema, was blasted out as supermodel Gisele Bundchen strutted through the arena.
Expectant locals, athletes from hundreds of worldwide delegations and viewers from numerous media outlets watched as the Olympic cauldron was lit by marathon runner Vanderlei de Lima.
Temer, who took office in May when impeachment procedures were started against president Dilma Rousseff, tried to postpone his poor reception by opting out of the initial welcome alongside International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach.
Despite the resentful undercurrent, and protests against the Games just hours earlier, spirits were high among the thousands of athletes, performers, fans and officials at the 78,000-capacity Maracana. “We also made a decision to wait until the last moment to decide which the plan was, allowing him more time to improve his condition and to get medical authorization”.
“A new world”, Nuzman said “is begun today”.
The cannonball-shaped cauldron was lit by Brazilian marathoner Vanderlei Cordeiro de Lima. First, the awarding of the newly inaugurated Olympic Laurel to two-time Olympic gold medallist athlete Kipchoge Keino, 76, recognising his work educating orphaned children, and the arrival of the Refugee Olympic Team to roars nearly as deafening as those reserved for the home athletes.
Sailor Peter Burling carried the NZ flag wearing a kakahu cloak along with co-captain Blair Tuke.
“The world needs to know – I am here watching this spectacle from a slum right next to where they are opening the Olympics, and my life has not improved at all”, said Jose Carmo, a 23-year-old construction worker who lives in Mangueira.
It was a visually stunning representation of a foundational element of Brazil’s identity and, while it may not be the moment in the ceremony that people will be talking about most as the Olympics play out, it provided an image that will stick with viewers. In the almost four-hour event, nothing appeared to go awry.
Brazil is suffering its worst economic crisis in decades.
The lead-up to the sporting celebration has been less-than-ideal for host country Brazil, amid a climate of tough social conditions and a strained economy.
Popular worldwide athletes graced the stadium as they led their respective delegations in the Opening Ceremony.
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Gymnastics, meanwhile, could see the world find a new darling in America’s teenage star Simone Biles, while rugby and golf return to the Olympic programme after gaps of 92 years and 112 years respectively.
