At the conclusion of the Opening Ceremony, focus turned to the Olympic cauldron as Vanderlei de Lima approached with the Olympic torch.
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Vanderlei Cordeiro de Lima doesn’t have almost the same name recognition as Pelé, whose poor health prevented the Brazilian soccer star from participating in Friday’s Opening Ceremonies, but he was a worthy choice to light the Olympic cauldron.
“The Olympic spirit prevailed here”, de Lima said after the race.
So 12 years later than he likely would have, De Lima got his golden moment.
But De Lima was then attacked by notorious Irish priest Cornelius Horan, who jumped onto the course and pushed De Lima off the track. He eventually won the bronze.
Marathoner Vanderlei de Lima says he found out just an hour before the Olympic cauldron was lit at the opening ceremony that he was the one who would carry the flame.
He took the torch from women’s basketball silver medalist and world champion Hortencia Marcari, climbed a flight of steps and set the caldron alight, greeted by huge roars from his countrymen.
Football great Pele was expected to be given the honor before ruling himself out earlier on Friday because of ill health.
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Cordeiro de Lima, who retired in 2009, was the final link in the Olympic torch relay on Friday night, climbing a long staircase and lighting a round orb, which soared high into the air as the centrepiece of a spectacular sculpture which swirled and shimmered above the Maracana Stadium.
