This was not the case for the opening ceremony orchestrated by “City of God” director Fernando Meirelles, who chose to depict the colonization of Brazil, as well as the importation of African slaves and the importance of indigenous populations, since each played a vital role in the building of the country as it stands today.
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The cauldron in central Rio is expected to be lit by a runner after the opening ceremony is finished, Howe said.
The story of Brazil was then retold in a stunning showcase, beginning with the birth of life itself, depicted on a huge screen on the stadium floor, and continuing with a representation of the country’s rainforest and the forming of three huge “ocas” or huts to symbolise the indigenous people who call that fantastic and precious habitat their home.
“Our admiration is even greater because you managed this at a very hard time in Brazilian history”.
But the boos that greeted acting Brazilian president Michel Temer’s short address to open the Games, the smattering of jeers the Russian team received and the catcalls that followed a reference to government funding tell a different story.
A political crisis led to the impeachment of President Dilma Rousseff, meaning the Brazilian leader will miss Friday’s ceremony.
The US$12 billion price tag to organize the Games has aggrieved many in the nation of 200 million and in Rio, where few can see the benefits of the spectacle or even afford to attend the Games.
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The center of the festivities contained an extended segment warning against pending global catastrophe and announcing the creation of the Athletes’ Forest, which will contain 11,000 newly planted seeds, one for each athlete competing in the games.
207 teams paraded at the Maracana Stadium with a refugee team as they were given a roaring welcome by the spectators present at the ground.
After one of the roughest-ever rides from vote to games by an Olympic host, the city of beaches, carnival, grinding poverty and sun-kissed wealth opened the two-week games of the 31st Olympiad with a high-energy gala celebration of Brazil’s can-do spirit, biodiversity and melting pot history.
I love being In Brazil.
Brazil’s Gisele Bundchen strutted across the arena to the iconic “Girl From Ipanema” before Greece, home of the ancient Olympics, led out the colourful athletes’ parade.
“It is not enough to stop harming the planet, it is time to start healing it”, programme notes from the ceremony’s organisers read.
The opening ceremony was a journey through Brazil’s history and culture, and an environmental message for the world, in a humble opening ceremony. Actresses Judi Dench and Fernanda Montenegro lent their voices for a classic poem about hope for the future.
Infrastructures weren’t ready, risky bacteria was poisoning the water and the Zika virus left some athletes thinking they’d be better off at home.
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Skipper Abby Erceg was a one of a number of Football Ferns to post a photo of the team getting into the swing of things by donning their official uniform for the night ahead of their match against Colombia on Sunday (NZ time).
