Coverage of Friday’s opening ceremony at Rio’s Maracana Stadium begins at 23:35 BST on BBC One.
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The former soccer star – Brazil’s most famous athlete – said this week he was invited to take part in the opening ceremonies for the 2016 Summer Olympics, but business deals were stopping him from doing it. “Brazilians can look at it and say, ‘We are a cool people, we are different ethnic groups, we live together, we never went to war, we are peaceful, we know how to enjoy life and we tend to be happy'”.
The cauldron in the city centre is expected to be lit by a runner after the opening ceremony, Mr Howe said.
Even with the drastically smaller budget, Meirelles promised everything in the ceremony will be “very big”.
Audience: More than three billion people worldwide are expected to watch.
Where’s the nearest official Fanzone to watch the 2016 Olympics?
“The world is very tense”, the director added, citing the rise of U.S. presidential contender Donald Trump and Britain’s recent shock decision to leave the European Union. Rio organizers, though, would not confirm the information.
Leaders of countries who are in Brazil to promote bids for the 2024 Games discussed terrorism threats Friday ahead of Rio’s opening ceremony.
These include golfer Maria Verchenova, all 11 Russian judo athletes, 31 swimmers (including two who had previously been told they would be banned), all five equestrian athletes, all 30 Russian volleyballers, and all 11 Russian boxers being cleared to compete.
Waving signs reading “No to the Olympics!”, about 3,000 blocked gathered outside the luxury Copacabana Palace Hotel where many Olympic athletes are staying. In past Olympics, refugees have competed as individuals.
The Summer Olympic Games are underway in Rio, and I wish all of the competitors well, especially our US and New England athletes.
The massive sporting event takes place at 33 venues across Rio de Janeiro – with 7.5 million tickets sold to spectators who will be watching the action in Brazil.
IOC President Thomas Bach announced on July 24 that Russian athletes, with the exception of track and field competitors, were allowed to participate in the 2016 Summer Olympics based on individual approval of each respective global sports federation or association. A state-approved doping scandal put Russian participation in this year’s games in doubt.
Organisers hope the bright lights and thumping rhythms of Friday’s samba spectacular at the Maracana, which gets under way at 8:00pm local time (2300GMT) can brighten the mood throughout the nation.
Critics had called for the entire team to be banned to show systematic cheating is unacceptable.
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Russia’s track and field team remains barred following an earlier decision by the IAAF.
