The glitter and glamour of Rio’s stunning Olympics opening ceremony gave way Saturday to bitter competition for the first medals of the Games dogged by a doom-laden buildup.
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Meanwhile supermodel Gisele Bundchen sauntered towards the image, leaving a winding trail resembling the curves that characterized Oscar Niemeyer’s architecture.
Brazil’s flag bearer was modern pentathlete Yane Marques, who led the home team into the Maracana to a rapturous welcome, with the hosts bringing the parade of nations to a close.
From August 5 to August 21, 10,500 athletes from 207 teams will compete, including representatives from Kosovo and South Sudan, countries that are participating for the first time in the Olympics. Phelps was 15 when he made his first Olympic team in 2000, and he has competed in every Games since.
He was found outside the gates of the Rio State University on Rua Sao Francisco Xavier, not far from the stadium where approximately 75,000 people watched Brazil put on its biggest ever show.
News reports that hundreds of intelligence analysts, field agents, security personnel, and other members of all 17 USA security agencies have been sent to Rio to keep their eye on the games in the hopes of heading off terrorist attacks and other unrest that has been threatened by a variety of sources. “I hope these Olympics will show people how we can come back together”. There is also 200km of security fencing being used.
Before the show, in a video broadcast inside the 78,000-seat Maracana Stadium, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the games “celebrate the best of humanity” and appealed for an Olympic truce, calling on “all warring parties to lay down their weapons” during the two weeks of sporting achievement. It’s about the world community, enjoying the event; It’s a circle of friendship.
Golf is returning after a 112-year absence but without more than 20 of its top players.
Rugby sevens will be making its debut at the Olympics, although rugby union featured regularly at the Games until 1924.
While the Rio 2016 organizing committee has not said how much the ceremony cost, it is believed to be about half of the $42 million spent by London in 2012.
Rio police says it is continuing its investigation.
The classified report outlines an operation that encompasses all 17 US intelligence agencies, including those of the armed services, and involves human intelligence, spy satellites, electronic eavesdropping, and cyber and social media monitoring. “An officer from an unidentified agency who was assisting with Olympic security responded and shot the man”.
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Her ouster less than four months out from the games for alleged budget violations was one of the many complications that roiled Brazil’s Olympic preparations and impacted the opening ceremony itself.
