Brazil showcased its rich history and cultural heritage, combined with Rio’s famous ’Samba’ dance, as the 31st Olympic Games was officially launched with a subtle yet powerful message of global warming plaguing the world in a glittering opening ceremony here.
Brazil organisers put their passion for football aside and made climate change and depletion of natural resources as the central theme in a thought—provoking nearly four—hour long ceremony to signal the opening of the 17—day extravaganza which will be competed by more than 11,000 athletes from 209 countries, including India, and a refugee Olympic team.
Artists perform during the opening ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 5, 2016. Photo: AFP Brazil’s Acting President Michel Temer declared open the Games, the first to be held in South America, in the presence of International Olympic Committee chief Thomas Bach, who gave a lengthy speech, and United Nations head, Ban—Ki Moon.
“I declare the Rio Olympics open, and celebrate the 31st Olympic Games of the modern era,” Temer said to formally signal the commencement of competitions as the Rio night sky was lit with fireworks emanating from Maracana Stadium.
After the formal declaration of the Games, Brazilian 2004 Athens Olympics marathon bronze winner Vanderlei de Lima lit the Olympic cauldron after former tennis world number one and three—time French Open winner Gustavo Kuerten brought the torch into the arena to the thunderous applause of spectators.
Having witnessed many memorable clashes on its pitch, the 78,000—capacity Maracana Stadium today bore testimony to Brazil’s effort to make the world a better place, and how!
It was, in a way, putting aside the trouble-torn build up that the host city faced from a Zika virus threat, to slumping economy and cost over-runs.
“It is not enough to stop harming the planet, it’s time to begin healing it. This will be our Olympic message: Earthlings, let’s replant, let’s save the planet,” said the creators of the opening ceremony.
Fireworks explode over the Maracana stadium during the opening ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro on Friday, August 5, 2016. Photo: AFP Following the tradition, Greece, the birthplace of ancient Olympics, led the athletes’ parade with the hosts country Brazil coming last. The countries marched in alphabetical order based on the spelling of their names in Portuguese.
Led by its only individual gold medallist Abhinav Bindra, who is in his swansong Olympics, as the flag bearer, the Indian contingent entered the stadium as 95th country.
Indian contingent
Around 70 Indian athletes (out of 118) and 24 officials took part in the march past with the male athletes wearing navy blue colour blazer and trousers and their female counterparts donning blue blazer and traditional Saree.
In his record seventh Olympic appearance, tennis ace Leander Paes was seen waving at the crowd, while the spotlight among the female members fell on the likes of shuttlers Jwala Gutta, Ashwini Ponappa and gymnast Dipa Karmakar.
Among the officials who were part of the march past were chef-de-mission Rakesh Gupta and his deputy Anandeswar Pandey.
The men’s hockey players skipped the parade as they have a match against Ireland. The archery, table tennis and weightlifting teams also skipped the opening ceremony.
Towering over the 2016 Summer Olympics host city is the Christ the Redeemer statue. After a few days, you might chuckle when a hotel brochure or tour guide tries to sell you something by saying it “includes” a view of the statue.
Jesus is everywhere here, as is plenty of temptation and sin.
Visitors to Rio Olympics will find all senses triggered
Right after getting off the plane, sweat beads will start to gather on your forehead. That’s just Rio de Janeiro’s ever—present humidity saying “hello.”
You will be enveloped by shades of green lush tropical forests jammed between buildings of all sizes and tones of blue along miles of inviting coastlines.
A giant screen shows United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon as he delivers a speech during the opening ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on Friday. Photo: AFP Australia's Jared Tallent has pulled out of the 20km walk at the Rio Games because of a hamstring problem but will defend his Olympic title in the 50km race.
The 31-year-old, second across the line in London in 2012, was awarded the 50km gold in a special ceremony in Melbourne in June after Russian Sergey Kirdyapkin had his result wiped from the record books for doping.
As Rio Olympics begin, Pope's own Brazil moment made for his pontificate's >#OpeningCeremony : >https://t.co/TWuqId1LVd>pic.twitter.com/aIkpdaRUfT
— Rocco Palmo (@roccopalmo) >August 5, 2016
The Indian contingent will be led by Olympian medallist shooter Abhinav Bindra.
Journalists work ahead of the opening ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro on Friday. Photo: AFP Samba party! Rio leads global dance at Olympic opening gala
Hey world, are you ready to samba? Because Rio is leading the dance.
After one of the roughest-ever rides from vote to games by an Olympic host, the city of beaches, carnival, grinding poverty and sun-kissed wealth is lifting the curtain on South America’s first Olympics, with an opening ceremony expected to be low on gadgetry but high on soul for a global television audience.
A young girl holds a Brazilian flag outside the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro ahead of the opening ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games on Friday. Photo: AFP The three-hour gala from the iconic Maracana Stadium is a showcase for Brazil’s history, culture, diversity and hopes. It also represents something of a triumph, because there were times after the International Olympic Committee selected Rio ahead of Chicago, Tokyo and Madrid in 2009 when it seemed that the city of 6.5 million people might not get its act together for the world’s greatest sporting mega—event.
But with more than a dash of “gambiarra,” the Brazilian art of quick-fixes and making do, Rio de Janeiro is ready.
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Brazil's suspended President Dilma Rousseff said on Friday she was “sad” not to be present at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
Ms. Rousseff, who was suspended from office in May pending her trial by the Senate this month on charges of breaking budget laws, said on her Twitter account she was “sad not to be at the party 'live and in colour' but I will be following it, rooting for Brazil".
Brazilian police stand guard near the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro ahead of the opening ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games on Friday. Photo: AFP Most of the nations marching in Friday’s opening ceremony for the Rio Games will not have a head of state in Maracana Stadium to help cheer their arrival.
Oooooh shiny! Wonder what these guys will be doing at the >#OpeningCeremony ?? >pic.twitter.com/7pLjoSKsA0
— Rio 2016 (@Rio2016_en) >August 5, 2016
Officials had predicted as many as 100 heads of state would attend the first Olympics in South America. But that fell way flat, with about 25 expected to attend Friday night in large part because of very uncertain political times in Brazil.
International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) president Sebastian Coe waits for the start of the opening ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro on Friday. Photo: AFP For now, the country essentially has two presidents. Interim President Michel Temer took over following the suspension in May of President Dilma Rousseff on impeachment charges.
Among those who are coming- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry.
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Fans are filing into Maracana Stadium, as the opening ceremony for the Rio Games gets set to begin later Friday night.
People head to the stadium before the start of the opening ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games near the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro on Friday. Photo: AFP Once considered the biggest stadium in the world with a capacity of nearly 200,000, Maracana Stadium now holds around 80,000 people.
>Click here for full coverage of Rio Olympics 2016>
Day 2:>Rio Olympics 2016: Indians in action
To relax a bit >Read Players to watch out for — Part II
How about a peek backstage? The volunteers performing at tonight's >#OpeningCeremony are almost ready! >pic.twitter.com/Kv4LIeM2z9
— Rio 2016 (@Rio2016_en) >August 5, 2016
A reception welcoming foreign dignitaries to the opening ceremony of the Summer Olympics promises to be a lonely affair, with many heads of state staying away from Rio de Janeiro for fear of offending Brazilian political sensibilities.
Ahead of South America’s first Olympics, officials had predicted as many as 100 heads of state would attend. But a list provided Friday by the Foreign Ministry showed fewer than 25 in attendance, among them the presidents of Argentina, France and Portugal. The United States is being represented by Secretary of State John Kerry.
People head to the stadium before the start of the opening ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games near the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro on Friday. Photo: AFP ********
Fans are filing into Maracana Stadium, as the opening ceremony for the Rio Games gets set to begin later Friday night. Once considered the biggest stadium in the world with a capacity of nearly 200,000, Maracana Stadium now holds around 80,000 people.
Opened in 1950 for the World Cup, in which Uruguay beat the hosts 2-1 in the final, the stadium has been renovated many times over the years. Pele scored the 1,000th goal of his career there in 1969, and the field has been the site for countless major soccer matches at many levels.
Frank Sinatra, Tina Turner and Paul McCartney all played there in the 1980s to massive crowds of about 180,000. KISS, Sting, Madonna, Pearl Jam, the Rolling Stones and Prince are among the many other performers to grace Maracana’s stage.
A worker walks past the Rio Olympics sign on the pitch at the Olympic Hockey centre in Rio de Janeiro ahead of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games on Friday. Photo: AFP The stadium was the site of the 2014 World Cup final. Germany topped Argentina 1-0 for the title.
The closing ceremony is at the stadium as well, as are the opening and closing events of the Paralympics.
Thousands of Brazilians angry at political upheaval, corruption and the cost of the Rio Olympics blocked traffic in protests on Friday ahead of the gala opening ceremony. About 3,000 people occupied the busy avenue running along Copacabana beach, while a smaller crowd including radical leftists faced off with mounted police near the Maracana stadium where the opening was to be staged.
The >#OpeningCeremony starts at 20:00 GMT-3. Find out what time it starts around the world: >https://t.co/Bw3i08T0za>pic.twitter.com/NPZFq2LVDx
— Rio 2016 (@Rio2016_en) >August 5, 2016
Reports of me refusing to share room with Bopanna false: Paes
Tennis ace Leander Paes has termed the reports that he had refused to share a room at the Olympic Games Village here with his doubles partner Rohan Bopanna as “false” and said that his timing of arrival at Rio was according to plans and known to the Indian tennis team.
Speculation of a rift between the two men’s doubles players was doing the rounds here and reports have suggested that Paes refused to share a room with Bopanna at the Games Village. It was also speculated that Paes’ late arrival had given the duo little time for match parctice and Bopanna had to make other arrangements.
Indian women archery team enters prequarters
India’s women’s archery team, comprising Deepika Kumar, L. Bombayala Devi and Laxmirani Majhi, finished seventh to enter the prequarterfinals of the 31st Olympics.
Deepika bagged 640 points, Bombayla got 638 and Laxmirani managed 614 as India shot a combined total of 1,982.
Individually, Deepika finished 20th and Bombayla was 24th as they entered the Round of 32. But Laxmirani’s 614 failed to qualify for the next round.
Top three spots were bagged by South Koreans, who also bagged the top spot in the group contest.
>Read: Apurvi and Ayonika to start the medal quest>
>Read: Paes & Bopanna to open against Polish pair>
>Read: Bach explains IOC’s stand on Russia>
>Read: Atanu Das shines; female archers falter
Can't light Olympic cauldron due to poor health: Pele
Brazil football legend Pele said poor health will prevent him from lighting the Olympic cauldron at the Games' opening ceremony on Friday as he had hoped to do.
"Dear friends, only God is more important than my health!" the 75-year-old said in a statement published by Brazilian media.
"Right now I am not in physical condition to take part in the opening of the Olympics."
Pele said on Wednesday that the International Olympic Committee had asked him to carry the torch to the cauldron in Rio's Maracana stadium at Friday night's ceremony.
Most people came to vent anger at center-right interim president Michel Temer who took power in May on the suspension of elected leftist president, Dilma Rousseff. She faces an impeachment trial that supporters claim amounts to a coup.
(Residents of Rio de Janeiro demonstrate against interim president Michel Temer, political upheaval, corruption and the cost of the Rio 2016 Olympics Games, in front of the Copacabana Palace Hotel on Friday. Photo: AFP)
Demonstrators also targeted the Olympics, saying the billions of dollars spent on staging South America's first Games fueled corruption and only helped the elite.
Waving signs that read "No to the Olympics!" and "Temer out!", protesters gathered outside the luxury Copacabana Palace Hotel where many Olympic team members are staying.
Guests with Olympic accreditation around their necks looked down from the hotel terrace, while the crowd jeered vehicles taking Olympic VIPs and athletes through the upscale neighborhood.
When a limousine surrounded by police outriders came through, the crowd surged forward, chanting "no to the coup" and "putschists, fascists, we won't let them pass!"
Soon after, about 500 people gathered close to the 78,600 capacity Maracana stadium where Temer was to oversee the Olympics opening ceremony.
"There won't be an Olympic torch!" chanted the crowd, confronting a line of about 20 mounted police and many more on foot in riot gear.
"This party wasn't done for the people. The Games don't come close to the reality lived by the poor. So I'm protesting against the lack of finances for our schools and for the way our salaries are only paid in instalments," said teacher Guilherme Moreira Dias, 38.
The protests were the latest unwelcome distraction for the government and Olympic organizers as the Games start.
Authorities are also dealing with rampant crime, including a lengthening list of muggings against Olympic delegates and journalists, despite the deployment of 85,000 soldiers and police to protect the Games.
Just a facade
Protesters, many of them from Rousseff's leftist Workers' Party, said Brazil's deep economic and social problems are being swept under the carpet for the Olympics.
"They're holding the Olympics when people are having a very hard time," said Ricardo Parents 59, a psychologist who came to the Copacabana protest.
"The Olympics is a facade, it's for show. It doesn't represent the reality of Brazil. They want to show everything nice and perfect."
Over and over again the crowd chanted "Temer out" and called for Rousseff's return.
She is charged with breaking budgetary laws and looks certain to be thrown out of office by the Senate in the next few weeks at the end of an impeachment process that she says has been manipulated by Brazil's right, calling Temer the chief "conspirator."
"I am demonstrating for democracy in Brazil. The world is watching so we are here to denounce the coup," said one demonstrator, Iraci Franca, 57, a nurse.
"It's very hard right now in Rio state for education and health because of the lack of funds and non-payment of salaries," she said.
Rio de Janeiro won the right in 2009 to host the Olympic Games at a time when Brazil was economically and politically on the rise. The collapse in stability and wealth since then has been brutal.
Temer is to open the Games while Rousseff and her predecessor and political mentor Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva have refused to attend the ceremony.
With opponents promising to boo Temer at the stadium, organizers plan to play loud music immediately after his remarks and mask the heckling, according to Brazilian media.
"We want to take advantage when the world's attention is on Brazil to denounce what's happening, how we are on the path to dictatorship," said one demonstrator, Ubiratan Delgado, a 59-year-old engineer in Copacabana.
"We're not against the Olympics, it's the criminal Olympics we oppose."
