There have been protests the entire time Brazil has been evicting folks for quixotic construction projects, and as the Olympic Torch has arrived in Rio for the opening ceremony, it has been the subject of a fresh wave of action.
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Ever since its arrival in Brazil, the Olympic torch has been followed by protesters outraged about the $12 billion price tag for the Olympics as issues like education, healthcare, public transportation and even the government’s late payment of employees will plague the city long after the games are gone.
The Rio Olympics organizers arranged a welcome performance ahead of the flag-raising ceremony, which featured an excellent mixture of aboriginal dance and music.
The mayor, widely seen as hoping to use the Olympics as a springboard for his Presidential ambitions, then changed into sports clothes to start the relay through the host city.
The torch was briefly extinguished during violent clashes between demonstrators and police last week in Angra dos Reis, a coastal resort south of Rio.
Brazil embarked on its Olympics bid at a time of prosperity in 2006, but the games are opening with the country in the grip of its worst recession in decades.
The 72-year-old South Korean will also meet athletes, including those with the first Refugee Olympic team.
World champions and four-time gold medallists the United States begin their campaign later in Belo Horizonte against New Zealand before Colombia and France also face off in Group G.
The sluggish Brazilian economy and fears over the spread of the Zika virus are among the factors being blamed for relatively slow sales.
Canada had to cope from the 19th minute with only 10 women after Shelina Zadorsky was sent off for dragging down Michelle Heyman on her way to goal.
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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. Brazil’s women begin their quest for a first Olympic soccer title against China, a day before the men’s team opens against South Africa in the capital Brasilia.
