The 2016 Olympics kicked off in Rio de Janeiro, and the opening ceremony was one for the books.
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Fireworks light up the sky over Maracana Stadium during the opening ceremony of the 2016 Summer Olympic Games.
With a limited budget, the effect of a biting recession that roiled preparations for South America’s first Olympics, Brazil laced its high-energy opening party for the games of the 31st Olympiad with a sobering message of the dangers of global warming.
The night of colour, rhythm and samba drew towards a close as Brazilian marathon runner Vanderlei Cordeiro de Lima, who had won the bronze medal at the Athens Olympic Games in 2004, lit the Olympic cauldron.
While both are realities of the history of Brazil, the Olympics are often a place where the less savory details are swept under the rug to provide a more pleasant (if incomplete) image of the host country.
Legendary Kenyan distance runner Kip Keino delivered an impassioned speech as the first-ever recipient of the Olympic Laurel and International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach also spoke with distinction. I’m the proudest man alive.
It is unclear why Temer was not announced, although the protests against the cost of the Games that have marred the build-up to Rio’s big moment on Friday would suggest organisers were concerned he would be jeered.
The British contingent received a rousing ovation from the crowd in the cavernous stadium, where a flamboyant spectacle of sound and colour typical of a Brazilian carnival welcomed the 206 guest nations competing in the 31st summer games.
A separate cauldron for the public has been set up in downtown Rio.
Rio’s Olympics are costing almost $12 billion but critics argue even legacy projects like a new metro line, bus highways and massive real estate developments have done little to improve the lives of the city’s marginalized. We are also willing to tell the world to stop attacking our home. “With your great talent and human spirit, you are making a great contribution to society”.
Phelps will compete in the 200m butterfly, the 200m individual medley and the 100m butterfly in his fifth career Olympics.
Michael Phelps led the United States contingent during the Rio 2016 Olympics opening ceremony.
12/13 Serena Willams debuted against Daria Gavrilova in the first round of the 2016 Rio Olympics with a 6-4, 6-2 win. If tradition holds, the next 17 days promise more – way more – of a focus on the inspirational ideal that the best in each of us makes all of us better. Either way, congratulations to Gisele on a long and incredibly successful career!
An estimated global audience of three billion watched the ceremony. Lea has blazed her own path in the fashion industry, working with everyone from Givenchy to Redken.
The ceremony’s creative bosses, who included Oscar-nominated director Fernando Meirelles, described Gisele’s appearance as being her “last catwalk” and she coolly strolled across the floor of the stadium in a gold-sequined dress to the relaxing tune of arguably Brazil’s most famous song, the bossa nova jazz classic The Girl from Ipanema.
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Buzzfeed reported it the thirstiest: Tonga’s flagbearer, Pita Taufatofua, got the crowd (and social media) all excited when he stepped out completely shirtless, oiled up, and in a skirt.
