Olympic representatives said the torch pageant was delayed after anti-government demonstrators threw rocks and blocked the road.
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And, as part of an agreement between Barcelona and the Brazilian federation, Neymar skipped the Copa, which sealed Dunga’s fate as Brazil coach for the second time, to ensure he is fresh for the Olympics.
Police used tear gas to break up protests against salary delays for public workers.
Ticket sales are an important generator of revenue for a city where around $12 billion has been spent preparing for the Games. Japanese gymnast Kohei Uchimura landed a almost $5,000 phone bill in Rio after he was persuaded by his teammates to download the game shortly after touching down in Brazil for a pre-Games training camp last week.
But there was a cause for celebrations on the football field as headers from Monica and Cristiane either side of Andressa Alves’ 59th-minute strike secured Brazil’s opening win over China.
The result leaves them top of Group E ahead of Sweden, who beat South Africa 1-0.Nilla Fischer scored Sweden’s victor after 74 minutes, bundling the ball into the net with her knee after the South African keeper failed to hold a cross.
The stadium is also known as Joao Havelange Stadium, named after the 100-year-old Brazilian who led soccer’s governing body Federation Internationale de Football Association for 24 years.
“As a Brazilian, I’d love to do it”, said the 75-year-old, who helped his country win the World Cup three times and would be launching the games in the stadium where he scored his 1,000th goal in 1969.
In the final game of the day in Belo Horizonte, France cruised past Colombia 4-0 to take the group lead over the Americans.
The soccer in Sao Paulo saw a piece of Olympic history created by Canada.
Germany hammered Zimbabwe 6-1, with Melanie Behringer getting two goals for the Germans and Kudakwashe Basopo scoring Zimbabwe’s first goal at an worldwide tournament.
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Brazil’s men start their campaign against South Africa in Brazilia on Thursday, with Denmark and Iraq the other teams in their group.
