Thousands in the stadium and millions more through television saw the South American nation proudly showcase its traditions and environmental wonders before athletes from 205 nations and territories march behind their flags during Opening Ceremony at the Rio Olympics.
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“The heat is melting the icecap”, a voice intoned.
They received boisterous applause when they entered the 78,000 seat arena. They showed images from NASA that sheds a light on the environmental change, pollution and many other aspects.
Hours earlier, the Olympics were declared open at Rio’s fabled Maracana stadium late Friday with Brazilian marathon runner Vanderlei Cordeiro lighting the cauldron following an exuberant display of Brazil’s cultural heritage, capped by breathtaking pyrotechnics – and a burst of high-octane samba. Fewer than 25 foreign heads of state were listed as attending, with others seemingly staying away to avoid giving the impression of taking sides amid Brazil’s leadership uncertainty.
At 16, hurdler Sydney McLaughlin will be the youngest to compete for the U.S. Olympic track team since 1972. “These are your games, the first in South America”.
Crowds were loud and enthusiastic for fencing.
Each athlete was presented with a seed and a cartridge of soil to enable them to plant a native tree of Brazil, which will ultimately form an “Athletes Forest” made up of 207 different species – one for each delegation. When they sprout, they will be planted in a Rio park.
USA swimming star Michael Phelps says his aim is to win four gold medals at the Rio Olympics, hedging his remarks in an interview with the German daily Die Welt that it’s easier said than done. Silva is Brazil’s first female world champion and one of the country’s strongest medal hopes; Brazil narrowly missed out on bronze medals on the first two days of the competition. The team included 19-year-old Katie Ledecky who is competing for three individual medals, and is a favorite in the 400 freestyle, in which she holds the world record.
On behalf of all 11,288 competitors (6,182 men; 5,106 women), a Brazilian athlete will pledge an oath that they won’t take banned drugs – a promise likely to ring false to many fans after the scandal of government-orchestrated cheating in Russian Federation.
Armenia team participating with 32 athletes was lead by flag bearer swimmer Vahan Mkhitaryan. Another woman pushed Nemati’s wheelchair.
Director Fernando Meirelles was faced with a great challenge when he was assigned to orchestrate the Rio Olympics opening ceremony.
“It is pretty tacky to be overspending”, he said.
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The ceremony instead featured those troubles more palatable to the developed world: global warming and damage to the country’s magnificent Amazon rainforest. About 75 percent of attendees are Brazilian.
