NBC, which drew criticism for tape-delaying the broadcast back in the USA, is expecting its biggest ratings ever for these Olympics. We are also willing to tell the world to stop attacking our home.
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Rio – obviously – did things a little differently.
As supermodel Giselle Bundchen went walking to Rio’s signature tune The Girl from Ipanema, the ceremony turned into the party the crowd of 50,000 was waiting for. But, increasingly – and this is where I think a lot of the pressure comes on each [host] nation – is they want to be wowed.
As Acelebrities swamped the Maracana for the opening ceremony, which celebrated the culture of favelas, slum dwellers looked on less than 1km away at the lights colouring the night sky. There was a really somber portion, showing the dire effects of climate change on the planet and sea level rise. There were maps showing Dubai and the Netherlands getting swallowed by the sea.
The athletes were given tree seeds, plus cartridges of soil.
BLOCK: It is still going on.
“It’s a great honor”, Ushiro said before the ceremony.
Even as a dazzling array of silver-clad dancers took to the floor to create a shimmering countdown that built anticipation to a fever pitch among the 60,000 inside, long lines still snaked outside Maracana Stadium.
South Africa’s flag bearer Wayde Van Niekerk joins the opening ceremony’s parade of nations.
The IOC decided instead to delegate responsibility to each sport’s global federation, and the 271 Russian athletes that avoided suspension put on a fearless face as they marched around the stadium.
As teams from across the world prepare to take to the sea for swimming, sailing, rowing and canoeing events, they’re worrying about water.
The 271 Russian athletes – out of an original entry list of 389 – who walked into the stadium were only officially cleared to take part in the Games on Thursday. Four years ago, women won 29 of the Americans’ 46 gold medals, including Flint boxer Claressa Shields, who is back to defend her Olympic title in Rio and was all smiles in Friday’s parade. What led to that?
They’re about lots of things in this massive country of 200 million people, blessed with some of the world’s richest natural resources as well as a natural resourcefulness. It’s been undergoing a awful recession.
The ceremony’s creative director Fernando Meirelles had less money to spend than his predecessors, including the mastermind of London 2012’s memorable show Danny Boyle, but he promised “the coolest party” and he certainly gave it a go.
With that the show was over and the Olympics had begun.
And they’ve actually used the term MacGyvering in terms of how they’re approaching this.
“The responsibility of the decisions are mine, where I have always tried not to disappoint my family and the people of Brazil”.
BLOCK:…Agent who improvised – you know better than I.
“It is pretty tacky to be overspending”, he said.
MCEVERS: Quickly, what’s still to come tonight?
Samba and pop music singers are expected to perform, including Grammy award winners Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil. Interim President Michel Temer presided over the opening of the Games inside Maracana with dozens of heads of state. He has said he does expect to be booed.
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Denilson Lucio Souza, said that “at this moment I am proud to be a Brazilian and that the Games are here”.
