Rio Games kick start with grand Opening Ceremony
06 August, Rio de Janeiro
Leaving behind memories of a dope controversy and Zika virus, the 31st Olympics Opening Ceremony (OC), began with a grand feast of Brazil’s colourful dance and music at the iconic Maracana Stadium here Saturday.
Acting President of Brazil, Michel Temer, declared the Olympic Games open from the capacity crowd of 74,738 as fireworks lit up the night sky above Maracana signalling the launch of the biggest sporting spectacle expected to be watched by an estimated 900 million people worldwide.
The hosts lifted the curtain on its second major sporting event in two years, after the 2014 Soccer World Cup.Rio is the the first South American city to host the Summer Olympics.Football legend Pele confirmed that he had received an invite from the IOC and will be part of the ceremonial lighting of the Olympic cauldron. Brazilian famed director Fernando Meirelles, of City of God and
The Constant Gardener, co-directed the opening show, with dazzling performances by at least 300 professional dancers and 5,000 volunteers.In the Parade of Nations, Greece entered first, while Indian contingent came at 95 in the parade order.India’s star shooter Abhinav Bindra, the country’s only individual gold medallist in the Olympics, ledthe contingent holding the Indian tricolour as the athletes acknowledged the cheers of the crowd and soaked in the electrifying atmosphere at the historic Maracana Stadium for the mega-event.
The Indian contingent, which will be hoping to make a significant impact at the Rio Olympics after their path-breaking show in the London Games, clinching six medals, got a rousing welcome as they walked into the stadium with the men attired in blue blazers and women wearing yellow saris.Host Brazil came last.
The Refugee Olympic Team, competing under the Olympic flag, has 10 members – five from South Sudan, two from Syria, two from DR Congo and one from Ethiopia received the loudest cheers, while walking through Maracana.
The star attraction of the event was Brazil supermodel Gisele Bundchen, who mesmerised the spectators with her breathtaking performance depicting life in Rio de Janeiro.
Transgender model Lea T also played a role.Celebrated singer Anitta and other musical gems like Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil also performed during the opening ceremony.
The ceremony featured a poetry reading from renowned actors Judi Dench and Fernanda Montenegro.More than 11,000 athletes from 206 National Olympic Committees (NOCs), including first time entrants Kosovo and South Sudan, took part.These will be the first Summer Olympic Games under the IOC presidency of Thomas Bach.
The event features 28 sports and a total of 41 disciplines and 306 events.The largest venue at the games in terms of seating capacity is the Maracana Stadium, officially known as Jornalista Mario Filho Stadium, which can hold 74,738 spectators and will serve as the official Olympic Stadium, hosting the opening and closing ceremonies as well as the football finals.
The Rio games will have brand-new robotic technology created by Mark Roberts Motion Control to broaden the reach of photographers at multiple venues.Presidents Mauricio Macri (Argentina), Francois Hollande (France), Matteo Renzi( Italy), Dutch king Willem-Alexander and UN Secretary-General Ban ki-moon were among the dignitaries who were expected to attend the OC.